Yashasvi Jaiswal recently showcased his batting prowess once again by smashing a brilliant century for Mumbai against Rajasthan in a Ranji match at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium. This century serves as a strong statement of his readiness for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, where he's expected to play a crucial role. Jaiswal completed his century in 120 balls and eventually went on to score an. Impressive 156 runs off 174 deliveries, an innings studded with 18 fours and one six. This marks his 17th first-class century and was his first Ranji Trophy match since January 2025.
Stellar Ranji Comeback and Records
Since his first-class debut in 2019, this is Jaiswal's fifth century in the Ranji Trophy, achieved in a mere 21 innings, highlighting his rapid ascent and consistent scoring ability in the format. During this particular innings against Rajasthan, he also completed 1000 Ranji runs for. Mumbai, a testament to his sustained performance and impact for his state team. Jaiswal boasts an impressive Ranji average of close to 57, an exceptional figure for any batsman, underscoring his capability to play long and impactful innings. His knock came at a critical juncture when Mumbai needed a substantial contribution.
Match Context and Mumbai's Resilience
Delving into the match situation, Rajasthan had posted a formidable total of 617 runs in their first innings, with Deepak Hooda playing a memorable knock of 248 runs. This massive score gave Rajasthan a significant first-innings lead of 363 runs over Mumbai. Mumbai, in their first innings, had managed only 254 runs. At the end of the third day, Mumbai had scored 89 runs without loss, with Jaiswal and Musheer Khan providing a solid foundation. Jaiswal's 156-run innings was instrumental in Mumbai reaching 269 for. Three wickets, helping the team achieve a more respectable position. He forged crucial partnerships, including a 149-run stand with Musheer Khan (63 runs off 115 balls) and a 67-run partnership for the third wicket with Siddhesh Lad (19 not out).
The Big Question Mark Over International Career
Despite his consistent run-scoring in domestic cricket, a significant question looms over Yashasvi Jaiswal's international career: will he become a regular member of India's ODI and T20 teams? Jaiswal made his Test debut for India in 2023 and has since played 26 Test matches for the national side, where he has proven his mettle. However, he also made his T20I debut around the same time but has only played 23 T20 internationals so far. His T20I strike rate of 164. 31 is impressive and aligns with the demands of modern cricket, yet he isn't a regular fixture in the T20 team's playing XI.
Competition in T20 and ODI Formats
Currently, the opening partnership for India in T20Is is often Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, making it challenging for Jaiswal to secure a spot in the playing eleven. It will be intriguing to see if he gets more opportunities in the T20 format in the future and if the selectors can carve out a permanent place for him. Also, another crucial question is when he will be given a consistent run in One Day International cricket. Jaiswal has played only 1 ODI for India to date. With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening the innings for India in ODIs, it will be interesting to observe how the selectors integrate this talented left-handed batsman into this format. Jaiswal's consistency and versatility make him a valuable asset across all three formats, but due to team composition and the form of existing players, he's currently awaiting his opportunity to cement his place. The selectors face an interesting challenge in optimally utilizing this young talent.
