Cricketer-turned-expert Ravichandran Ashwin has teared into the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Ajit Agarkar for some bizarre selection calls in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 event. Agarkar, alongside T20I captain Suryakumar, picked a 15-member squad, which saw the return of India's Test skipper Shubman Gill, who was also named deputy in the Continental Cup squad for Surya. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal was snubbed from the squad, despite mostly doing everything right.
Notably, the southpaw was the backup opener in the T20 World Cup 2024, but now he is nowhere to be seen, as the likes of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma & Tilak Varma have edged him in the T20I format. Ashwin, who comes across as very blunt & straightforward person, expressed utter disbelief at not seeing Jasiwal's name in the Asia Cup squad.
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In a video on his YouTube channel, the former off-spinner stated that the fact the Royals opener was excluded for the Continental Cup can now force him to re-look his approach of playing in the shortest format of the game. The opener might now start trying to play for himself rather than thinking of the team because of this latest setback.
"As Jaiswal got a chance in Test cricket, he took it with both hands. Easily the most successful Test batter that has made a debut for India in the recent past. He excelled in whatever format you gave him his opportunity to play, and what else can one do other than excellence? He excelled and lost his chance in that slot.
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"Now, he has to go back to the drawing board again, but I really wish him well for getting a shot at it. The point is, Jaiswal didn't lose any opportunity; there was even a leadership role left over for him. Then, now only one more slot remaining, which will be Abhishek Sharma's spot where they have to fight each other," Ashwin said.
Yashasvi Jaiswal always plays for the team: Ravi Ashwin
The expert further went on to state that Yashasvi Jaiswal always prides himself in playing for the team, & does not think one bit about himself when he plays T20 cricket. Ashwin feels the southpaw's incredible strike rate reflects his ultra-positive approach while batting. However, despite all his efforts, he suffered a selection snub because of Shubman Gill, who was forced to be drafted in the team.
"He has a strike rate of 165 in this format as well. It is very difficult to find someone like Jaiswal because he doesn't play for himself sometimes. I have seen many such batters who don't even play themselves and Shreyas too. They do not play on their own; the ball is there to hit, and they will take that chance. For average players, it's less, but more so when it comes down to strike rates or scoring goals. Such brand players took quite some time to get into India.
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That's a big thing you are saying. No, we have to save our own space and it is an unfortunate thing that T20 has become one of those places," Ashwin asserted.
For the unversed, Jaiswal scored over 500 runs for the Royals in the IPL 2025 season, at a strike rate of over 160. While initially the opener struggled for timing, later he was one of the standout batters for the Royals along with Vaibhav Suryavasnhi.
