Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the BCCI selection committee’s decision to drop Yashasvi Jaiswal from the ODI squad for the upcoming five-match series in New Zealand. The left-handed batter was part of India’s ODI squad against the West Indies but did not get a chance to play a single match and now he has been left out of the team.
According to Ashwin, dropping Jaiswal without giving him a game could dent his confidence.
Calling Jaiswal a “run machine”, Ashwin said he should have been considered for the final two ODIs in the absence of Shubman Gill and added that the lack of opportunities could affect Jaiswal’s confidence at a crucial stage of his career.
“If Shubman Gill is not playing the last two ODIs, then Yashasvi Jaiswal
should definitely get that spot. It is very unfortunate because all of this can ruin his confidence. Now, with the way he was scoring runs…” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“I can understand Shubman Gill’s situation because he is travelling. I can also understand KL Rahul’s situation. But Yashasvi Jaiswal has had no game time at all, right? I am not talking from the perspective of just handing Jaiswal opportunities.
“I understand and agree with your point. However, his confidence is being completely ruined. I do not know, but if you look at his batting, he is not batting the way he used to two or three years ago,” he added.
Jaiswal last played an ODI for India in June 2026 against Afghanistan and scored 110 runs off 86 balls during the run chase at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Ashwin said it was the responsibility of the selectors and team management to ensure that the youngster received opportunities whenever possible.
“He was a run machine. If his confidence is getting ruined, it is the job of the team management and selectors to give him an opportunity wherever possible. But he has not been getting those opportunities at all. It has not gone to him. And it is very unfair,” Ashwin said.
Jaiswal has been named in the India A squad for the three-match red-ball series against New Zealand as part of the team’s preparations for the two-Test series.
He will be joined by KL Rahul, with the two India regulars set to get valuable match practice in the longer format ahead of the series.
“That is why I am saying, if there is an opportunity here for these two ODIs, honestly, if I were in the position of the team management or selectors, I would have gone and asked Yashasvi Jaiswal: ‘This is the situation for these two ODIs, do you want to play? If you want to play, please go ahead and play.’ There is absolutely nothing like international game time,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin said it was important for Jaiswal to prepare for Test cricket, but he also questioned when the batter had last featured in each of the three international formats.
“I agree that he needs to prepare for Test cricket. But tell me, when did Yashasvi Jaiswal last play an ODI? When did he last play a T20? When did he last play a Test match? The one he played in Sri Lanka was his last Test,” Ashwin said.
