Yashasvi Jaiswal had created a rift among selectors: Ex-India selector reveals shocking truth

Former India pacer and national selector Salil Ankola lauded young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal following his aggressive playing style against Bangladesh.

Salil Ankola said that he picked Yashasvi Jaiswal for the Ranji Trophy 2022 season despite some selectors being unsure of the batting approach.

The left-handed batter made a name for himself on the domestic circuit with his unique style before transitioning to the national team.

He made his first-class debut in 2019 and has delivered impressive performances. Jaiswal averages over 70 in red-ball cricket with a strike rate of 68.80.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's Selection Was Against All Odds - Salil Ankola

Yashasvi Jaiswal's aggressive playing style is accepted now in modern cricket, but the scenario was not the same when he came to the scene.

Many were skeptical about his suitability for red-ball cricket, including some selectors who questioned his entry into the Indian national cricket team for Tests.

In an interview with the Times of India, Salil Ankola recalled how he took a risk with Jaiswal's selection into the Mumbai Ranji team after lockdown was lifted.

Ankola said that he trusted his instincts and backed Jaiswal's selection for the Mumbai team despite a lot of people having different opinions.

"As a selector, you go by your instincts too. He has the attitude, flair, and guts, that street-smartness you want in a cricketer. I felt Jaiswal had that. However, his selection (for the Mumbai Ranji team that year) was against all odds. A lot of people had different opinions- some felt his (aggressive) game wasn't suited to red-ball cricket. But I trusted my instincts," Ankola said.

"I felt that the game had become faster, and this boy would do well in all formats. Luckily, a couple of other selectors backed me on this, and Jaiswal proved us right," he added.

Jaiswal scored 498 runs in just three matches in the 2022 Ranji Trophy season. He continued his form in the Indian Premier League with the Rajasthan Royals. Jaiswal has established himself in the Test team and is also a crucial player in T20Is, but he hasn't made his debut for the Men in Blue in ODIs yet.

I Knew Yashasvi Jaiswal Was Special - Salil Ankola

Salil Ankola said that Yashasvi Jaiswal has an impressive range of shots and proved his exceptional talent as a batter. Ankola described Jaiswal as a once-in-a-generation player with a rare combination of great timing and power.

"I knew this guy was special, and he proved it. When you watch a batsman, the first thing you notice is his range of shots, and he has that. He's got great timing and power-a rare combination."

"His 'flow' is tremendous, as is his bat speed and swing. That's what struck me about him. Some players are technically correct, while some are clean hitters-he's both. He's a once-in-a-generation player," Ankola said in the same interaction.

The 22-year-old batter scored quick fifties (72 off 51 balls and 51 off 45 balls) in the second Test against Bangladesh and earned the 'Player of the Match' award.

Notably, he scored 712 runs in five Tests, including two centuries and three fifties during the home series against England earlier this year.

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