Ashwin slams selectors over Jaiswal's ODI snub ahead of 2027 World Cup
Synopsis
Ravichandran Ashwin has gone public with sharp criticism of India's selectors, calling Yashasvi Jaiswal's absence from the ODI squad 'very unfair' and questioning when the young opener last featured in any international format. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa on the horizon, Ashwin's intervention raises uncomfortable questions about whether India is squandering a generational talent through selection neglect.
Key Takeaways
Ravichandran Ashwin publicly called Yashasvi Jaiswal 's ODI exclusion 'very unfair' on his YouTube channel on 17 October 2026 .
Ashwin argued that with Shubman Gill unavailable for the final two ODIs, Jaiswal should have been the automatic replacement.
The former off-spinner questioned when Jaiswal last played an ODI , a T20I , or a Test match , highlighting prolonged multi-format absence.
Ashwin described Jaiswal as a 'precious talent' and placed responsibility squarely on the team management and selectors .
The criticism comes amid India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa .
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India's selection strategy, calling Yashasvi Jaiswal's continued absence from international cricket 'very unfair' and urging the team management and selectors to hand the young left-handed opener more opportunities ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Ashwin made the remarks on his YouTube channel on 17 October 2026, pointing specifically to the final two ODIs as a missed chance to keep Jaiswal in rhythm.
Ashwin's Core Argument
Ashwin questioned why Jaiswal was not considered for the remaining ODIs after Shubman Gill was ruled unavailable, arguing that the slot could have served dual purposes — giving Jaiswal game time while also helping the squad prepare for the upcoming Test series.
'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… 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,' Ashwin said.
Questions Over Multi-Format Gaps
Ashwin went beyond the ODI debate, pointing to what he described as troubling gaps across all three international formats for a player widely regarded as a generational talent. He posed a direct challenge to the selection rationale: '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 questions were rhetorical but pointed — Ashwin's concern is that infrequent appearances across formats risk disrupting Jaiswal's development at a critical stage of his international career. Notably, Jaiswal had built a reputation as a prolific run-scorer across formats before his recent stretch of limited international exposure.
World Cup Context and Selection Responsibility
With India needing to consolidate its top-order options well ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, Ashwin placed the responsibility firmly on the selectors and team management. He described Jaiswal as a 'precious talent' whose management must be handled carefully to avoid a crisis of confidence.
'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. This comes amid broader scrutiny of India's ODI squad selection, with several fringe players finding it difficult to secure consistent runs in the eleven.
Wider Implications for India's ODI Planning
India's ODI World Cup campaign in 2027 is still roughly a year away, but selectors are under pressure to identify a settled core squad. Ashwin's intervention adds a high-profile voice to the growing chorus questioning whether promising players are being adequately nurtured. The argument is not merely about one match but about the ecosystem of opportunity — or its absence — for players outside the first-choice eleven. How the selectors respond to such public pressure will be closely watched as the Test series looms and the broader white-ball calendar fills up.
Point of View
Which creates a vacuum that public figures like Ashwin will inevitably fill. What is being missed in the mainstream conversation is the structural issue: India's deep batting bench is simultaneously an asset and a management challenge, and without transparent communication on rotation policy, confidence damage to fringe-but-elite players like Jaiswal becomes a real risk. With the 2027 World Cup cycle now firmly under way, the cost of mismanaging a 'run machine' at this juncture could prove far more expensive than a missed ODI or two.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ravichandran Ashwin criticise India's selectors over Yashasvi Jaiswal?
Ashwin criticised the selectors for not including Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ODI squad despite Shubman Gill's unavailability, calling the omission 'very unfair' and warning it could damage Jaiswal's confidence. He made the remarks on his YouTube channel on 17 October 2026.
When did Yashasvi Jaiswal last play international cricket?
Ashwin himself posed this as an open question, asking when Jaiswal last featured in an ODI, a T20I, or a Test match — highlighting that the young opener has had prolonged gaps across all three international formats without a clear public explanation from selectors.
Why does Jaiswal's ODI snub matter ahead of the 2027 World Cup?
The 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa gives India roughly a year to identify a settled top-order combination. Ashwin argued that keeping a proven run-scorer like Jaiswal out of the mix during this critical cycle risks disrupting his form and confidence at exactly the wrong time.
What did Ashwin say about Jaiswal's talent?
Ashwin described Jaiswal as a 'precious talent' and a 'run machine,' urging the team management and selectors to take personal responsibility for ensuring he gets opportunities wherever possible. He stressed that the current approach 'is not going' to Jaiswal and called the situation 'very unfortunate.'
What should India's selectors do, according to Ashwin?
According to Ashwin, the selectors should treat every available slot — including those created by the absence of players like Shubman Gill — as an opportunity to keep Jaiswal involved in international cricket and protect his rhythm and confidence ahead of the World Cup cycle.
