India’s white-ball selection process is under fresh scrutiny after former captain Dilip Vengsarkar openly questioned the treatment of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite strong performances and clear potential across formats, the young opener continues to miss out at key moments. His exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad and likely absence from the ODI XI have again raised a simple yet profound question: Does India truly know where Jaiswal fits into their plans?
At just 23, Jaiswal has already shown skills that suit modern cricket perfectly. He has solid technique, scores quickly, and handles pressure well. Among the post-Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli generation, he stands out as the only batter who looks ready to be a regular across all formats. Yet, whenever India reaches a major white-ball decision point, Jaiswal seems to be the one sacrificed.
Why Yashasvi Jaiswal Keeps Missing Out
The pattern is hard to ignore. In 2024, Jaiswal was left out of the T20 World Cup squad because “experience” was preferred on tricky pitches in the USA and the Caribbean. Senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were backed, and Jaiswal made way. Seven months later, the same story played out in ODIs.
Jaiswal was first picked in India’s 15-man Champions Trophy squad, only to be dropped later. Head coach Gautam Gambhir pushed for a fourth spinner, and Jaiswal again became expendable. When Shubman Gill was dropped from the selectors’ T20 plans, many expected Jaiswal to return. Instead, the selectors chose Ishan Kishan as a keeper-opener after his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final hundred. What went unnoticed was that Jaiswal had also scored a 50-ball century against the same Haryana side days earlier.
Even now, Jaiswal is set to miss India’s ODI XI again, despite scoring a hundred in the previous match against South Africa. With Gill returning as regular ODI captain, the door appears shut once more. Vengsarkar summed it up bluntly, saying, “Nobody should leave a match-winner out of the team.”
IPL Talent vs Selection Clarity Problem
India’s strength is also its problem. The IPL serves as a major talent factory, providing the BCCI with a vast pool of explosive players. Young batters like Jaiswal get high-pressure experience early, making them ready-made for international T20 cricket. However, this abundance has led to inconsistent selection calls.
Jaiswal last played T20Is in July 2024. After that, he was pushed towards Test cricket, despite substantial white-ball numbers. His previous five T20I scores include 93, 40, and 30, with a strike rate close to 200. These are precisely the kind of returns India wants in modern T20s.
Vengsarkar warned that repeated omissions hurt confidence. T20 cricket rewards rhythm and continuity. While others stayed in the white-ball loop through bilateral series, Jaiswal slipped out of sight not because of poor form but because of shifting priorities.
As India looks beyond the T20 World Cup, there will be pressure to bring clarity. Balancing IPL-bred aggression with experience is essential, but so is clear communication. Without that, talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal risk being stuck in limbo, despite doing everything right.
