Yashasvi Jaiswal has played just three ODIs for India and has already scored two centuries. Yet, he is still waiting for a regular place in the ODI squad after being left out of the upcoming tour of England.
The 24-year-old has already established himself as one of India's most reliable batters in red-ball cricket. He has also proven his ability in white-ball formats through consistent performances in the IPL and domestic cricket. His List A numbers further strengthen his case, with an average of over 71, making him a strong contender for a regular spot in India's ODI setup.
Jaiswal Made the Most of His Limited Opportunities
Jaiswal was drafted into the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series as a replacement for Virat Kohli, who was unavailable due to injury. He spent the first ODI on the bench before finally getting an opportunity in the second match.
Opening alongside Rohit Sharma on a batting-friendly surface, Jaiswal failed to make an impact and was dismissed cheaply. However, he bounced back in style in the third ODI. Chasing a modest target at Chepauk, the left-hander played a composed innings and scored his second ODI century in just his third match. His knock helped India complete a clean sweep over Afghanistan and once again highlighted his potential in the 50-over format.
England Snub Raises Questions
Despite his impressive performances, Jaiswal was left out of India's squad for the three-match ODI series against England following Virat Kohli's return to the side. The selectors have opted for a more experienced batting group as India begin preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
While the road to the next World Cup has begun under captain Shubman Gill, India's squad is far from settled. The team still has many ODI assignments before the tournament, leaving enough time for players to push their claims.
Competition at the Top Remains Intense
At the moment, Jaiswal faces stiff competition for a place in the playing XI. India have several established top-order options, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, all of whom can open the batting.
As a specialist opener, Jaiswal's path into the side is not straightforward. However, his performances suggest that he remains firmly in the selectors' plans. If he continues to score heavily whenever opportunities come his way, it will become increasingly difficult to ignore his case.
A Matter of Time?
Although missing out on the England tour is a setback, it should not be viewed as the end of Jaiswal's ODI ambitions. With Rohit Sharma in the latter stages of his career, Jaiswal is widely seen as a long-term option at the top of the order.
For now, patience may be his biggest challenge. His opportunities have been limited, but whenever he has been given a chance, he has shown enough to suggest that a regular place in India's ODI side is only a matter of time.
India ODI Squad for England Tour: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar.
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