Taking advantage of a recent break from the cricket field, India's star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal crossed over into the world of football to tick off a major personal milestone. The dynamic left-hander traveled to New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States to catch a high-stakes FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between heavyweights France and Sweden.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal rocks a Lionel Messi jersey at FIFA World Cup
Showing his deep admiration for football royalty, Jaiswal turned heads by rocking an iconic Lionel Messi Argentina jersey, despite the South American team not playing that day. He watched on as the two-time champions put on a clinic to defeat Sweden 3-0 and punch their ticket to the next round, later sharing a highlight reel of his experience on social media with the apt caption, "Bucket list."
Watch the video here:
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This high-profile vacation comes during a period of unexpected downtime for the 24-year-old prodigy. Jaiswal’s absence from the current national setup sparked intense debate among cricket fans and pundits alike, following his omission from the squad to accommodate the return of veteran captain Rohit Sharma, a selection call that raised eyebrows given the intense scrutiny surrounding the senior batter's recent form. The decision was particularly jarring considering it arrived just 24 hours after Jaiswal had hammered a spectacular, unbeaten 110 against Afghanistan in Chennai, only to find himself dropped from the subsequent ODI series against England.
Jaiswal sets sights on Test series against New Zealand
Despite being ignored for the high-stakes ODI series, Jaiswal’s pedigree remains undeniable. He holds the elite distinction of being one of only six Indian batters in history to register a century across all three international formats, a testament to the incredibly successful scoring run he has enjoyed in recent seasons. While he remains away from competitive action for the time being, the southpaw is expected to make a roaring return to national colors when India squares off against New Zealand in a two-match Test series this coming November.