Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina said he respects the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee and captain Rohit Sharma for choosing young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in India’s for the ICC Champions Trophy. Although Yashasvi has not played a One-Day International match till date, his inclusion is said to be a reflection of his effort and some exceptional shows in other formats.
In a recent discussion, Raina highlighted Jaiswal’s hunger for runs and his rapid rise in the cricketing world. He said, “I feel that boy is very hungry for runs. Means, whenever we see his story, I think he has come to that level very eagerly. Hats off to the selectors, especially Rohit Sharma. You are taking him to the Champions Trophy without playing the ODI. You know that he does a lot of hard work, and dedication is very good.”
Raina added that Jaiswal has the special attitude and patience, “It seems that this boy has come prepared. This is the beauty of Indian cricket. If you work hard and you have the passion to represent the country, then there will be some power that will tell you to go and represent the country. Rohit has done this with Yashasvi.”
Inspirational is the best word to define Yashasvi Jaiswal’s rise to the national side, whose humble background in domestic cricket as well as the Indian Premier League did make headlines after his stellar showings. An aggressive batsman who has not stopped scoring, he has come under the scanners of selectors as well as spectators in a big way.
During the 2024 domestic season, Jaiswal’s scored 1,478 runs in 29 innings of 15 matches, with an average of 54.74. His half-century and three century scores indicate his potential to play useful innings.
Jaiswal’s performances in the IPL further enhanced his reputation as a promising talent. Opening for the Rajasthan Royals, Jaiswal consistently provided brisk starts and anchored the innings for his team while setting the platform for his side. His fearless approach against both pace and spin bowlers reflected his versatility and adaptability.
The decision to include Jaiswal in the Champions Trophy squad, despite his lack of ODI experience, reflects the selectors’ confidence in his abilities and potential to perform on the big stage. It also highlights a forward-thinking approach, aiming to infuse fresh talent into the team ahead of a major tournament. With Jaiswal, they will look to add excitement to their batting line-up by bringing in the needed depth and spark needed to be competitive in the tournament.