'He has been roaming around for 2-3 years now' - Mohit Sharma urges India to play Yashasvi Jaiswal in West Indies ODIs
The former India pacer believes Jaiswal must get playing time in the upcoming three-match series starting September 27.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named in India's ODI squad for the three-match series against West Indies beginning September 27, 2026. The left-handed opening batter was included when the squad was announced on September 16. Jaiswal has played six ODI matches since his debut on February 6, 2025, against England, and has established himself as a strong performer in the format with an impressive batting average of 71.25 across those matches.
Former India pacer Mohit Sharma has publicly urged the team management to ensure Jaiswal gets playing time during the West Indies series. Sharma believes the young batter must be given opportunities as part of India's preparation for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, with Shubman Gill captaining the ODI side for this series.
"If you are looking at the big picture with Yashasvi Jaiswal, then it is high time that you make space to play him. Is the captain willing to play at No.4? Then Yashasvi can open the batting. Can someone be dropped so that he can be in the playing XI?" Sharma said on Cricbuzz.
"I don't see any way apart from those, because after No.4, there is no sense of including him in the playing XI. Now how will the space be created, that is a headache. I think it is very important that we find the medicine for this because Yashasvi has been in this scenario for a while now. He has been roaming around for 2-3 years now," he added.
Jaiswal's recent ODI form and World Cup preparation
Jaiswal's recent ODI performances have been noteworthy. He scored his maiden ODI century of 116 not out against South Africa in December 2025, followed by an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls in his most recent ODI against Afghanistan. These scores demonstrate his ability to perform consistently at the international level and his capacity to build significant innings. Jaiswal, born on December 28, 2001, has already achieved the distinction of scoring centuries in all three formats of international cricket.
Sharma's call for guaranteed playing time
Sharma emphasised the importance of building Jaiswal's confidence for future opportunities. The former pacer stressed that the young batter needs to be given assurance and backing from the team management to perform at his best when called upon.
"He needs to be given the confidence. I don't want anyone to be unfit, but if unfortunately, someone is unfit, have we given Yashasvi Jaiswal enough confidence to be at 100 percent when he plays? I think that is very important," Sharma said.
Jaiswal's inclusion in the West Indies ODI squad signals India's intent to develop him as a long-term option in the opening position. The series against West Indies will provide an opportunity to assess his readiness for consistent ODI cricket ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
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