R Ashwin didn't mince words while criticising India's move to snub Yashasvi Jaiswal from the ODI squad for the New Zealand tour, especially the final two
ODIs, where India will be without a few regular players. With the World Cup lined up next year, the New Zealand series is not a random bilateral series, but it is being seen as serious preparation for the ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Jaiswal is a proven batter for India, who could travel to the World Cup as a back-up opener alongside Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul likely to bat in the middle order. But he is not getting many opportunities, and Ashwin believes it has completely ruined his confidence. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that the lack of opportunities has dented Jaiswal's confidence and he is not the same player he used to be a few years ago, adding that the management had an opportunity to give him much-needed game time during the final two ODIs against New Zealand, where Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have been rested. India instead added Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan to the squad. "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..." "Tell me this, I can understand Shubman Gill's situation because he is travelling. I can also understand KL Rahul's situation. But Yashasvi Jaiswal has no game time at all, right? I am not speaking purely from a perspective of just handing Yashasvi 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 bat two or three years ago," Ashwin said. "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. 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."
🚨Injustice towards Jaiswal - R Ashwin-They aren't giving Jaiswal any international game time. He should have been selected for the last 2 ODIs.-The team management and selectors are doing an injustice to Jaiswal & they are shattering his self-confidence.-Jaiswal is a run-machine, but his confidence clearly appears to be down in the current Test matches. -If Rohit Sharma plays in the 2027 World Cup, what guarantee is there that Jaiswal will be the opener afterward? After all, there’s also Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.-They are neither selecting him for T20s nor for ODIs. A great injustice is being done to him.
— Indian Cricket 🏏 (@Indiancric1cm) October 16, 2026
Meanwhile, Jaiswal has been included in the Test squad for the two-match series against New Zealand; however, Ashwin said that he hasn't played any cricket since India toured Sri Lanka, and India could have used the ODIs to give him game time before the Test series.
"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. After that, he has not played any international cricket at all. Yet, this is a player who was in prime form and scoring runs consistently. Wherever you set up stumps, he was scoring runs. It is very unfortunate. It is definitely the responsibility of the selectors and team management to look after Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is a precious talent," Ashwin concluded.
Disclaimer: This article summarises a report by R Ashwin. While Times Now has verified the public data presented, the interpretations of 'intent' remain those of the creator.
