Former India head coach Ravi Shastri is confident that the “already world-class” Yashasvi Jaiswal will return from the Australia tour a significantly improved batsman irrespective of the challenges he encounters along the way.

Shastri said if Jaiswal can adapt to the challenging Perth pitch, the young opener will play with freedom later on in the series.

“I think he’ll be a better player when he leaves Australian shores. Already he’s world-class,” Shastri said at a Fox Cricket event.

“You saw what he did against England (and) just the freedom with which he plays. I think once he adapts to these conditions — it’s not going to be easy to adjust in Perth with that bounce, no matter how talented you are. You have got to be prepared to do the hard yards.

“But if he can see that phase through, I think he’ll entertain. He will love these pitches. He’s someone who will score pretty freelyas well.”

Hailed as one of Indian cricket’s brightest young talents, the 22-year-old made a dazzling start to his Test career. He cemented his spot in the team with a stunning series performance against England earlier this year.

“He has come up the hard way, so you can see he’s hungry and passionate also when he’s out there in the middle, fielding in the slips. He wants to be involved in the game.”

Jaiswal suffered a bit of neck spasm during India’s training session at the Perth Stadium on Tuesday. But it was learnt that the spasm wasn’t anything severe and he had also returned to bat a little later.

In the series opener in particular, it’s crucial for Jaiswal to get India off to a decent start as KL Rahul — his expected opening partner in Perth — is not in the best of form. Whoever goes in at No.3 will be lacking Test-match experience, while Virat Kohli (at No.4) hasn’t been fluent in the Test format in the last five years.

Being India’s head coach in two series victories in Australia (in 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons), Shastri knows firsthand that defeating the Aussies on their home turf is no easy feat. “It’s going to be tough,” Shastri said.

“As I found out on my three tours here as a coach, you have to be at your best. Your A-game has to come to the park very early if you want to catch Australia on the wrong foot.

“You can’t spare an inch. I think that is the only way. There is no other way you can play against Australia in Australia. You’ve got to or else, you’re not going to get an inch.

“You have got to understand very early what to expect from the (Australian) media as well because they’ll be behind the Australian team.

“But if you can get your boys to get out there and play as hard as it gets and perform, the media will respect you.”

Faith in Kohli

Virat Kohli has been enduring a lean patch in Test cricket in particular, with just two centuries in the last five years. However, despite these struggles, Kohli boasts a remarkable record in Australia.

Having toured Down Under four times, the former captain averages an impressive 54, and Shastri has once again backed Kohli to excel in the upcoming series.

“You mellow with age, don’t you? But I think at the start of the Test series, you might just see Kohli firing again. He needs to be, and I’d like to see him like that again,” Shastri said.

“Come Australia, Kohli will get his juices going.”