Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the decision to leave out Yashasvi Jaiswal from India's ODI squad for next month's tour of England, despite the opener scoring two centuries in his last three innings in the format.
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma run between the wickets during the third ODI cricket match between India and Afghanistan (PTI)
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Jaiswal was not part of India's plans for the recently concluded home ODI series against Afghanistan and only got an opportunity after Virat Kohli was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The left-hander grabbed it with both hands, smashing a century in the series finale in Chennai.
It was Jaiswal's second ODI hundred in just six appearances. His maiden ton came in December last year when he scored an unbeaten 116 against South Africa in Vizag.
Yet, with Kohli returning for the England tour, Jaiswal was left out of the squad — a decision that did not sit well with Manjrekar.
“Yashasvi has scored two hundreds in his last three ODIs. He made 116 not out against South Africa, then after a gap scored four and a hundred. Anyone opening in India’s strong ODI side will get opportunities, and Yashasvi has made the most of them. So yes, it is unfortunate and a bit harsh,” Manjrekar said, as quoted by the Times of India.
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“Yashasvi has scored two hundreds in his last three ODIs. He made 116 not out against South Africa, then after a gap scored four and a hundred. Anyone opening in India’s strong ODI side will get opportunities, and Yashasvi has made the most of them. So yes, it is unfortunate and a bit harsh,” Manjrekar said, as quoted by the Times of India.
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The former India batter then raised a larger question about Rohit Sharma's place in India's long-term ODI plans, particularly with the 2027 World Cup in mind.
“If the selectors have picked Rohit, I hope it’s because they genuinely see him as part of the 2027 World Cup plans. Otherwise, that place should have gone to somebody else,” he said.
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Manjrekar also urged the selectors to prioritise the team's future over the stature of individual players.
“We all know the culture around big-name players. Decisions are rarely as simple as judging on cricketing merit alone. That seems to be the case with Rohit too. If the selectors believe Rohit is part of the long-term plan, they should say so.
“But if he is being picked because they are not ready to move on from him, then it reflects a problem Indian cricket has had for years. Selection should never be about what’s best for Virat, Rohit or Bumrah. It should always be about what’s best for Indian cricket,” Manjrekar asserted.
India's ODI series in England is scheduled to begin on July 14.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/'Do what's best for India, not Rohit Sharma': Sanjay Manjrekar questions World Cup 2027 plans after 'harsh' Jaiswal snub
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