A couple of years ago, Yashasvi Jaiswal was considered one of the most exciting young top-order batters across the globe. Then, in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, a 14-year-old batter named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut for the Rajasthan Royals. Since making his debut in the franchise league, the batter from Bihar remains one of the most sensational batters in the game, especially in T20 cricket.
As Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues his carnage against the top-tier bowling talents in the league, Yashavasvi Jaiswal, who is only 21, is gradually losing the spotlight. Former Team India spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has made some well-observed comments over Jaiswal’s performance, in the presence of Sooryavanshi as the opening partner of the Royals, in the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
Ashwin discussed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting in IPL 2026
Ashwin points out that because of the extraordinary batting of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal has gone under his shadow. The stats of both of the batters also reflect the difference. In the ongoing season, Sooryavanshi has so far scored 583 runs in 14 innings with an average of 41.64, and an amazing strike rate of 232.27, while Jaiswal has now 397 runs with an average of 33.08 and a strike rate of 159.43.
“It is slightly underwhelming, and I am a bit surprised by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s performance in the Rajasthan Royals team. I am a little surprised because I expected a lot from him; I have high hopes. But I just have a slight inkling of a feeling that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s display has perhaps shaken Jaiswal a bit. It has rattled him,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
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R Ashwin compared Yashasvi Jaiswal with Aakash Chopra
To further strengthen his point of view, the former cricketer talked about the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra. Sehwag was known for his attacking batting style; on the other hand, Chopra was a bit slow in rotating strike. In a limited number of matches, Aakash Chopra showed his class, but he was mostly outshone by his opening partner, Virender Sehwag.
“If you remember the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra in Test matches, Aakash Chopra used to play really well, giving good starts of 30 or 40 runs. But the sheer style and manner in which Virender Sehwag batted used to make Aakash Chopra look almost invisible. Not that he was; Aakash Chopra did a great job on that Australian tour, too. But I just have a feeling that because of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fierce batting here, it has thrown Jaiswal off a little. In many games, Jaiswal got out trying to hit the ball too hard,” Ashwin explains.
Disappointment over the Mumbai Indians' performance in IPL 2026
R Ashwin is utterly disappointed with the Mumbai Indians. On Sunday, they were outclassed by the Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin believes the Mi should have easily chased down the target of 206.
“I want to see Yashasvi Jaiswal bat well because he has the ability. But this time, Rajasthan Royals’ story has been about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and on the day Jofra Archer was needed, he also stepped up. But all that said, the Mumbai Indians have been very, very, very, very underwhelming this season. This score was chaseable,” Ashwin added.
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