Yashasvi Jaiswal advised to leave RR, break free of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s shadow: ‘Mumbai Indians would be good’

A former India batter has urged Yashasvi Jaiswal to explore opportunities with other IPL franchises after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi completely overshadowed him.

Updated on: May 28, 2026, 14:05:24 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Yashasvi Jaiswal is an India Test cricketer. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still only a T20 monster. Jaiswal has played 55 international games for India. Sooryavanshi has yet to earn his debut. Jaiswal is playing his seventh IPL (Indian Premier League) season. Sooryavanshi is into his second. However, the one area where Sooryavanshi has topped his opening partner in popularity and runs scored. With 426 runs from 15 matches, Jaiswal hasn’t fared too badly, but when it’s compared against what Sooryavanshi has achieved – 680 runs and counting, to go with soaring popularity that’s beaten even a legend like Virat Kohli, there’s only one winner.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, left, claps, as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi celebrates his fifty. (PTI)

Also Read: Chris Gayle reacts after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi crushes his six-hitting record, named successor to Universe Boss

Which is perhaps why Ambati Rayudu feels Jaiswal needs a switch. An integral part of the RR set up since 2020, Jaiswal has been advised to leave the Royals so he can come out of Sooryavanshi’s shadow and carve a niche for himself with another team. Comparisons between Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi have been rife this IPL season, with Ravichandran Ashwin pointing out how the senior opener looks visibly shaken and, as a result, has not performed as expected. Weighing in on the same, Rayudu suggested the time has come for Jaiswal to explore opportunities to become the hero for another franchise.

'Overshadowed every single time'

“He needs to change his team. Because he cannot just bat with the guy and be overshadowed every single time. He’s a star in his own right. If he goes to another team, he will win matches on his own. He needs that space and that platform. Because this guy will keep overshadowing people, it has to be a senior partner alongside him who can deal with it and be happy for him. Be happy for what is happening and not compete with the non-striker,” he said on ESPNCricinfo.

Also Read: Baby or not, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi definitely the boss – India’s one-man wrecking ball is leaving bowlers mentally scarred

Jaiswal's next home?

Which brings us to the next question: Which of the remaining nine franchises could be Jaiswal’s next home? The logical answer, as per Rayudu, is the Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma does not have a long career left with MI, and with Jaiswal his direct competition even in the Indian ODI team, it only makes sense for him to move to the franchise where he grew up playing his cricket. Jaiswal has played all his First-Class cricket for Mumbai – Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – making the answer crystal clear for Rayudu.

“Mumbai Indians is a good team for Jaiswal,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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