After Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ‘Jaiz-ball’ exploits in the Test series against England, all signs seemed to be pointing at a T20 World Cup seat for the young gun. Preceding that Test series, in January 2024, most pundits considered him all but ‘undroppable’ for the global event.
The left-hand batsman earned his maiden call-up to the senior team after a stellar IPL 2023 season. He amassed 625 runs in 14 innings, featuring a century and five fifties, all at an impressive strike-rate of 163.61.
While his T20I debut against the West Indies didn’t go as planned, he quickly demonstrated his skills in the subsequent innings by scoring an unbeaten 84. At the Asian Games, he scored his first T20I century and added three more fifties in his next nine T20I matches, showcasing his consistency and ability to perform under pressure.
But things have changed since. Jaiswal, representing Rajasthan Royals, hasn’t had the best start to his IPL journey this season. After leaving everyone awestruck in 2023, it seems as though the young batter is finding it tough to score big runs. He has managed to score only 102 in the five matches that he has played, and his scores have looked like this:
24 (12) vs LSG
5 (7) vs DC
10 (6) vs MI
0 (2) vs RCB
24 (19) vs GT
39 (28) vs PBKS
Although the IPL is a particularly long tournament, the numbers look a little worrisome considering that Jaiswal is eyeing a spot in the T20 World Cup squad. With great performances comes great pressure, and now that the power opener has hit a slippery slope, the pressure is mounting on him to bounce back and showcase his true potential. With news of Rohit Sharma leading the Indian contingent in the World Cup being confirmed, it all but leaves one opening spot, a spot that both Shubman Gill and Jaiswal are eyeing. With the performances that the experienced Virat Kohli is putting in, the selectors may even consider him for the opening spot.
As the squad announcement draws closer, expected to hit the headlines either in the final week of April or on May 1 following ICC’s guidelines, Jaiswal stands at a pivotal crossroads. The young left-hand batter has a prime opportunity to cement his place in the squad by capitalising on the remaining three matches.
While the formidable duo of Kohli and Rohit remains at the forefront for top-order slots, Jaiswal’s battle with Gill and KL Rahul for the third opener’s position adds an intriguing twist. If he can reignite his form and display the brilliance that initially earned him his senior call-up, Jaiswal not only secures his spot in the squad but also emerges as a strong contender for the travelling reserves. This injects an element of suspense into the impending squad announcement.