The absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s name was among the headlines that had popped out of India’s squad announcement for the 2025 Asia Cup. With Shubman Gill being made vice-captain and Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson’s performances helping them keep their places, Jaiswal ended up having to be sacrificed.
This is despite the fact that Jaiswal has scored 723 runs in 23 T20Is at a strike rate of 164.31 and average of 36.15, with a century and five half-centuries to go. The 23-year-old has however said that he is not letting this bother him. “I don’t think about. It’s all in the hands of selectors. The decisions are taken according to the team combination. I will do whatever I can,” said Yashasvi during a conversation with Mashable India.
The lack of a place to fit him in has limited Jaiswal’s ODI appearances as well to just one match, despite having become an indispensable part of the Indian Test team. Jaiswal is has 4301 runs to his name in 50-over cricket in 44 matches at an average of 55.85. In Test cricket, Jaiswal has 2209 runs in just 24 matches at an average of 50.20 with six centuries and 12 half-centuries. “When my time comes, things will fall into place. I just want to keep working on myself and keep working hard,” he added.
A ‘travesty’
Former India opener Aakash Chopra says that it is a “travesty” that Jaiswal is guaranteed a spot in only one format for now. “When you see Yashasvi, it seems like he is a three-format player. However, currently, he is playing only one format, and it seems like a travesty. It seems almost an injustice,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“The truth for now is that he will play the two Tests against the West Indies, and I am pretty sure he will score runs as well because he is that kind of a player. I think he will now get a chance to travel with the ODI team. When the three-match series against Australia starts, he will be there,” he observed.
