Former opener explains how Yashasvi Jaiswal can become a three-format player for Team India

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Becoming a three-format regular for India cricket team is one of the toughest challenges in modern-day cricket, given the intense competition and the ever-evolving demands of each format. Former India opener believes that while Yashasvi Jaiswal has the talent to succeed across formats, the youngster is missing a piece in his journey to becoming a complete all-format player.

In an era where formats demand contrasting skill sets, excelling consistently in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is is no easy feat. Indian cricket’s depth means even highly talented players must outperform peers season after season to stay relevant. Only a select few have managed to adapt their technique, temperament, and mindset to meet the shifting requirements of red-ball patience, 50-over balance, and T20 explosiveness. For young cricketers, the pathway to becoming indispensable across formats often hinges on producing standout performances in high-pressure tournaments.

Jaiswal is widely regarded as one of India’s brightest batting prospects and has already established himself as a regular in the Test side. His composure, hunger for big scores, and ability to bat long hours have impressed selectors and fans alike. However, his exposure in white-ball cricket remains limited, particularly in T20Is, where competition for opening slots is fierce. While Jaiswal has shown flashes of brilliance in limited-overs cricket, he has yet to cement a permanent role, leaving questions about his readiness to be viewed as a three-format certainty.

India are set to face New Zealand in a white-ball series comprising three ODIs followed by five T20Is, starting in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11. Although Jaiswal has been included in the ODI squad, his absence from the T20I plans underlines the selectors’ cautious approach and the importance of sustained impact performances.

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Addressing the topic on his YouTube channel, former opener Aakash Chopra offered a clear roadmap for Jaiswal’s progression. According to the former opener, a blockbuster IPL season could transform Jaiswal’s standing in white-ball cricket. Chopra stressed that tallying 400 to 450 runs in a season, while respectable, does not align with Jaiswal’s potential or the expectations placed on him.

“Yashasvi, I have a request for you. I want you to have a 700-run IPL season. Every year, I think it would be like that for you. You are having 400 to 450-run seasons, but that’s not good enough. Not for you, not for your standard,” said Chopra.

Chopra urged the left-hander to aim higher, specifically setting the benchmark at a 700-run IPL campaign. Such a season, he argued, would force the selectors’ hand and make Jaiswal impossible to ignore across formats. In Chopra’s view, a dominant IPL not only reflects consistency and adaptability but also demonstrates the match-winning impact required at the international level.

“I need a 700-run season so that you break the door and go in. That’s what I expect from him. That’s what I want from him. So Yashasvi should actually become a three-format player sooner than later,” he added.

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