'His confidence is worsening': R Ashwin slams India's exclusion of 'run machine' Yashasvi Jaiswal after NZ ODIs snub

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'His confidence is worsening': R Ashwin slams India's exclusion of 'run machine' Yashasvi Jaiswal after NZ ODIs snub originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • India left Yashasvi Jaiswal out of both ODI squads for the New Zealand series, and Ravichandran Ashwin has called the treatment unfair.
  • Ashwin says Jaiswal's confidence is being affected because he has had no international game time since his last Test.
  • Jaiswal averages 71.25 in six ODIs with two hundreds, yet he is not in either squad for the New Zealand series.

Yashasvi Jaiswal excluded as India announce ODI squad for New Zealand tour

India will play five ODIs in New Zealand as part of a tour that also includes five T20Is and two Tests.

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The BCCI named two separate ODI squads on October 16, and the series begins in Auckland on November 4 as part of a plan to manage workload before the Test series.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is not in either squad. Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs and then rest to prepare for the Test series.

Shreyas Iyer leads the side in the last two ODIs, with Ishan Kishan as vice-captain. Jaiswal was not added to the squad for those two matches.

Selectors have not given a clear reason for leaving Jaiswal out. His last ODI was an unbeaten 110 against Afghanistan in June, and he has played six ODIs in all since his debut in February 2025. He was also not in India's XI for the first ODI against West Indies.

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has now criticised the decision on his YouTube channel. He called the treatment unfair and linked it to Jaiswal's confidence and his lack of game time. Ashwin also pointed to the vacancy left by Gill's absence from the last two ODIs.

MORE: India may have pushed Jaiswal into the forgotten corner of its ODI plans before 2027 WC

Why Ravichandran Ashwin says India has been unfair to Yashasvi Jaiswal

Ashwin discussed Jaiswal in a conversation on his YouTube channel. He began by calling the selection unfair. Ashwin said, "Actually, Vimal bhai, the selectors have been a little unfair to Yashasvi Jaiswal." He then turned to the ODI series in New Zealand. He said the answer was clear once Gill was ruled out.

Ashwin said, "If Shubman Gill isn't playing the last two ODIs, then Yashasvi Jaiswal should be the one getting that opportunity." Jaiswal is part of the Test squad but is not in either ODI group. 

Ashwin also pointed out that Jaiswal's role has not changed since India won the T20 World Cup in the West Indies. He said, "He was the backup opener for that tournament, and he is still a backup opener." That, in his view, shows how little has moved.

Ashwin warned that a younger name could move ahead of Jaiswal. He said, "I feel Jaiswal might only get his opportunity after Rohit Sharma retires following the 50-over World Cup." He added, "But my concern is that, before that happens, they might even bring in Vaibhav Suryavanshi because of his current form."

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Ashwin believes Jaiswal's confidence is getting affected by repeated snubs from ODI and T20Is

Ashwin's biggest concern is Jaiswal's confidence. He said, "But his confidence is being affected, Vimal bhai." He added that Jaiswal is not batting as he did two or three years ago. Ashwin said, "He used to be a run machine."

Ashwin placed the responsibility on those in charge. He said, "If his confidence is taking a hit, then it's the responsibility of the team management and the selectors to find opportunities for him wherever possible." He said those opportunities are not coming his way.

Ashwin also called Jaiswal a talent the team must protect. He said, "He is a precious talent." With Rohit Sharma likely to consider retiring post the 2027 World Cup, having Jaiswal in the pipeline for the ODI opening position is crucial.

Jaiswal's ODI record: What are the reasons for the continued exclusion of the Indian star?

Jaiswal made his ODI debut against England on February 6, 2025, and has played six ODIs in all. He has scored 285 runs at an average of 71.25 and has been dismissed just four times. Both of his hundreds are unbeaten, 116 against South Africa and 110 against Afghanistan.

His last ODI was the third match against Afghanistan in Chennai on June 20, when he made 110 not out. His last Test, also against Afghanistan, began on June 6. By the first ODI in Auckland, more than four months will have passed since his last one-day game.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's ODI recordMatchesInningsRunsAverageHighest Score50s100s6628571.25116*02

The squads offer the clearest clues. Gill captains the first three ODIs and holds the opening spot, with Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan also among the options at the top. Jaiswal, by contrast, has played only six ODIs in the 20 months since his debut.

Test preparation is another possible explanation. Gill rests for the last two ODIs to get ready for the red-ball series, and Jaiswal is in the Test squad. That does not settle the point, since Gill is preparing for the same Tests and still plays the first three ODIs.

The risk is a loss of rhythm rather than form. His numbers are strong, but his case for the 2027 World Cup rests on a small sample of six matches. Unless Jaiswal gets regular game time soon, a younger batter in form could move ahead of him.

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