Every generation in Indian cricket produces a player who makes people stop and watch. Yashasvi Jaiswal has become that kind of name in recent months. He grew from the dusty grounds of Mumbai to the biggest stage of Test cricket and carried himself with hunger and calm. That mix separates promise from proof.
During the ongoing second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi, he struck a commanding 175 off 258 balls in the first innings. Jaiswal hit 22 crisp boundaries that made spectators and experts take notice again. The innings didn’t just add runs to the scorecard; it goes on to show his permanent place in India’s Test squad.
Yet, while Jaiswal has found his rhythm in red-ball cricket, he hasn’t received many chances in the shorter formats. The 23-year-old has played 26 Tests, showing that the selectors trust him more now, but his white-ball career still needs more games, with only one ODI and 23 T20Is so far. Even so, fans continue to believe in his potential.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes the young left-hander will soon become a regular across formats. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said Jaiswal’s skill and temperament make him too good to ignore. He reminded fans of the southpaw’s T20I hundred and his consistent IPL performances. He also said the selectors will soon give him more chances in ODIs. Chopra added that once Yashasvi opens with Shubman Gill, fans might stop missing Rohit Sharma’s familiar presence at the top.
"I think it's only a matter of time. You will find Yashasvi Jaiswal being blooded in all formats one by one. He has already played T20Is, and he scored a hundred as well. He plays very well in the IPL. He was part of the T20 World Cup team as well. After that, Shubman Gill went ahead of him in the race from the leadership perspective," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
"Shubman became a part of the Asia Cup team. Yashasvi is still not there. He will break into the team. You won't be able to keep him far for long, although an interesting discussion has started about whether you want to play Abhishek Sharma in ODIs. I feel Yashasvi might get a chance before him, and should as well. If Yashasvi and Shubman Gill open in ODIs, you might not even miss Rohit then," he added.
Could Jaiswal be the next big ODI opener?
As focus shifts to the upcoming ODI series against Australia, the discussion grows stronger. Rohit Sharma will play but won’t lead the team. Shubman Gill now holds that role, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. This change in leadership, along with talk about Rohit and Virat Kohli’s ODI futures, shows that India have started a slow transition.
Some reports even claim this series could mark a farewell for both veterans. In that context, Jaiswal’s rise fits the scheme perfectly. His List A average of 52.62 reflects a promise he continues to live up to. Many believe he will soon partner with Gill, given his aggressive stroke play and attacking style.
However, the southpaw's limited exposure to 50-over cricket might delay that move. Some feel he still needs more game time before he takes on a bigger role. Even so, Jaiswal's form, maturity, and hunger keep pushing his case forward.
If the selectors back his momentum, India will soon field a young, fearless opening pair. That partnership can lead the batting into a new era. The real question now isn’t if Yashasvi Jaiswal will open in ODIs, but how long India will take to give him that chance.
