Yashasvi Jaiswal has been in prime form during the ongoing IPL 2023 with the Rajasthan Royals opener smacking even the best of the bowlers in the competition without any reluctance and with utter disdain.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was so impressed by young Jaiswal’s class, technique, and temperament that he suggested India should have added Jaiswal to the WTC Final as the replacement of KL Rahul. While that suggestion might seem far-fetched, getting Yashasvi into the ODI setup is completely plausible.
Currently, it is Ishan Kishan who is touted as the opening backup of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the ODI squad. However, in the coming series and months, Jaiswal could force himself into the ODI squad.
Here are 3 reasons why Yashasvi Jaiswal could even make the World Cup 2023 squad:
Intent Intent Intent
The most impressive thing about Yashasvi Jaiswal’s batting in the ongoing IPL season is his elite intent in the powerplay. In the powerplay in IPL 2023, Jaiswal has scored 338 runs at a stunning average of 84 and a sky-high strike rate of 178. Out of 12 innings, he’s been dismissed only 4 times in the powerplay.
Getting off to a quick start in white-ball cricket before the ball gets soft is crucial for any team’s chances of posting a high total or chasing down any target. Yashasvi Jaiswal provides that uninhibited aggression up top which even Rohit, Gill, and Kishan don’t have.
Good List-A numbers
While people are currently considering Jaiswal’s name only for India’s T20I team, the southpaw has brilliant numbers in the longer formats of the game as well.
In 15 first-class matches, Jaiswal has ransacked 1845 runs at a terrific average of 80 and strike rate of 67. The left-hander has cracked 9 centuries and 2 fifties in his red-ball domestic career, highlighting his penchant of converting 50s into big scores. He has a best of 265 in first-class cricket. Apart from his thunderous form in Ranji Trophy, Jaiswal has slammed centuries in Duleep and Irani Trophy matches as well.
In List-A cricket, that is the 50-over format, the 21-year-old has played 32 knocks, in which he averages 53 at a strike rate of 86 and has notched up 5 centuries and 7 fifties. Jaiswal has all ingredients to an all-format India player in the coming years.
Superb form
Yashasvi Jasiwal’s current form is there in the out to see for everyone: he’s currently the second-highest scorer in the tournament with 575 runs. The southpaw is averaging 52 with a strike rate of 162 and has notched up 1 century and 4 fifties. He remained just 2 runs short of another century, against KKR at the Eden, where he blasted the fastest IPL fifty off 13 balls. He’s shown great consistency throughout the season for the Royals.
Amid such tremendous form and pristine touch, it seems a good idea if the selectors draft Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ODI squad soon.
