Former India spinner has slammed the handling of Yashasvi Jaiswal and is not entertained by what is happening. Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticised the national selectors for keeping young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal out of India’s ODI squad for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand. He has described the decision as “very unfair” and warned that the lack of opportunities risks damaging the left-hander’s confidence. He is very agitated by the situation and has broken his silence on it.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's 'unfair' ODI snub for NZ tour leaves India legend agitated, says 'If his confidence is getting ruined…’
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the ODI and Test squads for the tour on Friday, 16 October. Jaiswal, who has shown strong form in limited white-ball appearances, was left out of both the squad for the first three ODIs and the revised group for the final two matches. He has, however, been included in the Test squad and is also set to play for India A in a three-match red-ball series in New Zealand beginning later this month. Meanwhile, Ashwin is not happy with the omission and decided to speak his heart out.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin argued that the selectors missed a clear chance to give Jaiswal valuable game time. Shubman Gill will captain the side in the first three ODIs but will sit out the last two as he prepares for the Test series. Shreyas Iyer will take over the leadership for the remaining games. Ashwin believes that slot should have gone to Jaiswal. He said:
“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 added:
“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?”
Ashwin was particularly pointed about the broader issue of player development. He continued by saying:
“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.”
Jaiswal’s recent ODI performances underline Ashwin’s frustration. In his last appearance, against Afghanistan in June 2026, the 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls, helping India complete a 3-0 series sweep after coming in as a replacement for the injured Virat Kohli. He had earlier made an impressive 116 against South Africa in December 2025.
Despite these contributions, opportunities in the 50-over format have remained scarce. The five-match ODI series begins on 4 November in Auckland, followed by matches in Wellington, Hamilton and two games in Mount Maunganui.
India’s squad for the opening three matches includes Gill as captain, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and others. For the final two games, Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, Auqib Nabi and Yash Thakur come into the side, while Gill, Rahul and a couple of others drop out. Ishan Kishan is expected to open in Gill’s absence. Selectors appear to have prioritised red-ball preparation for key players, giving Gill and others a short break before the Test series starts on 19 November.
Jaiswal’s exclusion from the ODI set-up, even with available places, has raised questions about the balance between immediate squad management and long-term development, particularly with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa on the horizon. Ashwin also questioned the cumulative effect of limited international exposure. He noted that Jaiswal’s last Test appearance was in Sri Lanka and asked when the batter had last played a T20 international.
The former off-spinner suggested that Jaiswal’s batting approach had changed in recent years and that regular match practice was essential for him to regain his earlier fluency. Senior players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been retained for all five ODIs, while younger options compete for fewer spots. Jaiswal’s coach, Jwala Singh, has also expressed disappointment, noting that it is unfortunate for a player to miss out after scoring a century in his previous ODI.
Meanwhile, as India builds combinations ahead of the next World Cup cycle, Ashwin’s intervention has put the handling of one of the country’s most promising openers under the spotlight. Whether the selectors respond by finding future opportunities for Jaiswal in white-ball cricket remains to be seen, but the current decision has clearly left some former players unconvinced about the planning for the left-hander’s career.
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