‘Focus on batting’: Wasim Jaffer questions Yashasvi Jaiswal’s wicket haul
NEW DELHI: Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has questioned Yashasvi Jaiswal’s decision to take the wicket at the age of 24, urging the India Test opener to focus on his bat rather than trying to develop a challenging new skill. Jaiswal’s announced move to work on his wicket attracted attention ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season when the left-handed batsman donned the gloves during Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy preparations.Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad recently revealed that Jaiswal has been working on his wicket-keeping skills as a possible back-up batting and leg-spinner option. Lad suggested the 24-year-old could eventually aim to keep wickets for Mumbai or even India, although he admitted he was not entirely clear on Jaiswal’s plans.However, Jaffer was surprised by the development and questioned whether wicketkeeping was a practical option for a batsman who had not practiced the role since his youth.“I was surprised to hear that myself. It’s very difficult if you don’t keep wickets since childhood. First of all, it’s a very demanding job. Besides, where is the place even if he starts? There’s Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant. I’m sure he wants to do it in white-ball cricket,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
“He has to concentrate on batting”
Jaffer emphasized that wicketkeeping, especially in Test cricket, requires considerable preparation and cannot be mastered quickly. Rather than dividing his attention between batting and a brand new skill, the former Mumbai skipper believes Jaiswal should focus on strengthening his primary game.“It’s very difficult in Test cricket. But I feel it’s a bit of a joke because wicket-keeping is not an easy task unless you’ve been doing it since childhood. It’s not an easy skill that you can develop very quickly,” Jaffer said.The former India opener also hinted that Jaiswal could be looking for ways to improve his chances of breaking into Indian white-ball sides. Despite establishing himself as a key batsman in Test cricket, the left-hander is yet to secure a regular place in the ODI and T20I lineups.“I think he’s getting a bit desperate to get into the white-ball teams. I think he needs to focus on batting ahead of the Ranji Trophy and the New Zealand tour,” Jaffer added.
Jaiswal set for Ranji Trophy opener
Jaiswal is expected to feature in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. He is also believed to have kept wickets for around 10 overs during one of the practice matches in Mumbai ahead of the domestic season.Lad hinted that Jaiswal would like to explore wicketkeeping as a potential next skill, while making it clear that the batsman’s long-term plans remain uncertain.“With Yashasvi, I feel he’s trying hard to start keeping wickets; that’s what I’ve heard from him. He wants to eventually keep wickets maybe for Mumbai in the future or continue to keep wickets for the Indian team. That’s what he’s focused on, that’s what I feel. But I’m not clear on that,” Ladseason told the ESPNcric press conference.
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