Yashasvi Jaiswal and the Rajasthan Royals have endured a difficult start to IPL 2025. The young opener has struggled for consistency, while his team is languishing at eighth on the 10-team table, with four defeats in six matches.
Jaiswal has become a familiar name in Indian cricket over a couple of years, thanks largely to his success in the Test cricket. He averages an impressive 52.88 in 19 matches in that format. However, his journey in white-ball cricket has not been as smooth.
In IPL 2025 so far, Jaiswal has scored 182 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 138.93. Remove his 47-ball 75 against RCB, which came in a losing cause, and his numbers look even less convincing. His scores this season read: 1, 29, 4, 67, 6, and 75 — not exactly the returns expected of a player vying for a spot in India’s T20I squad ahead of the Asia Cup later this year. The T20 World Cup takes place in early 2026.
Compounding the pressure on him is the emergence of strong contenders. Abhishek Sharma (192 runs at a strike rate of 202), Sai Sudharsan (329 at 151.62) and Shubman Gill (208 at 149.64) are all in the mix, with Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the ongoing IPL due to an elbow injury. India have recently leaned toward an opening pair of Abhishek and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson in T20Is. While Samson’s form in this IPL is also under scrutiny, his role as a wicketkeeper keeps him out of direct competition with Jaiswal.
Despite being inconsistent at times, Abhishek has made a strong start to his T20I career. In just 16 innings, he has hit two centuries and two fifties, boasting a strike rate of 193.84. He began with a hundred against Zimbabwe and backed it up with notable performances against top-tier teams — a 25-ball fifty against South Africa in Centurion, and standout knocks of 79 and 135 (off 54 balls) against England in a five-match T20I series earlier this year.
Whether off-field distractions are affecting Jaiswal’s form is uncertain. Recently, he moved from Mumbai to Goa in domestic cricket, where he will take on a leadership role. With his name being discussed as a future vice-captain or even Test captain, one wonders if his aspirations have begun to weigh heavily on his mind. For now, it’s only speculation.
“His stomach is full. Jaiswal isn’t focusing on cricket,” former Pakistan batter Basit Ali recently said on his YouTube channel. “This is my open message: cricket can make you cry a lot. Look at Prithvi Shaw. Love the game and bring passion. These young players won’t allow anyone to slack — whether it’s Priyansh Arya or Sai Sudharsan. They’re just waiting for a small opening. Once they get it, they’ll barge into the Indian side.”
With competition growing fiercer and his place in the T20I side uncertain, Jaiswal must make the most of every opportunity. As the next T20I cycle begins after the IPL, his form in the remainder of the tournament could prove decisive in shaping his future in the shortest format. He has made half-centuries in two of last three outings. He should take positives from those.