“It’s ridiculous”—that is the blunt assessment from former India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate regarding the curious case of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ongoing omission from India’s One Day International (ODI) setup. Despite a statistically staggering start to his limited-overs career, the young southpaw remains on the fringes of the first-choice ODI squad, a situation that has left even those formerly inside the dressing room scratching their heads.
The discourse surrounding Jaiswal’s absence has intensified as India recalibrates its white-ball strategy with an eye toward the 2027 ODI World Cup. While Jaiswal has cemented his status as a pillar of the Test team and a dynamic force in T20Is, his transition into the 50-over format has been plagued by inconsistency in selection, a reality that ten Doeschate believes defies logic given the player’s undeniable ceiling.
A Statistically Elite Resume
When one examines the raw data, the argument for Jaiswal’s inclusion becomes nearly impossible to ignore. In his brief six-match ODI tenure, the Mumbai-born opener has accumulated 285 runs at a staggering average of 71.25. Perhaps more impressively, those runs have come at a brisk pace, underscored by two brilliant centuries.
Yet, in a high-pressure environment like the Indian setup, where competition for spots is at an all-time high, these numbers have not guaranteed him a locked-in position in the starting XI. Speaking on the TalkSport Cricket Podcast, ten Doeschate emphasized that Jaiswal’s hunger is not merely a media narrative—it is an internal driving force that manifests in genuine frustration whenever he departs the crease without a significant score.
“He is so hungry to do well,” ten Doeschate noted. “Even when he gets runs but doesn’t get a big one, the genuine disappointment in leaving runs out there, you can see it really hurts him. He is desperate to play ODI cricket as well. He doesn’t get into the team, which is—it’s crazy.”
The “Net Session” Paradox
One of the most intriguing insights shared by the former coach was the dichotomy between Jaiswal’s practice habits and his performance under the bright lights of international cricket. Ten Doeschate acknowledged that Jaiswal is famously “not a great netter,” often failing to replicate his match-day intensity in training environments.
This was never more evident than during India’s historic 2024 Test tour of Australia. Recounting the buildup to the first Test in Perth, ten Doeschate recalled how Jaiswal looked vulnerable against short-pitched deliveries during practice sessions, prompting concerns about how he would fare against the raw pace of Mitchell Starc.
“I’ll never forget, it happened in Australia, that whole build-up in Perth,” ten Doeschate recalled. “Within the first three overs of the first Test match, Starc had bowled a 150k bouncer and he just pulled him in front of square. He just didn’t look like he could play the short ball in the nets, but he walked out and did that.”
This anecdote serves as a testament to Jaiswal’s mental fortitude. He possesses the rare ability to compartmentalize training-ground struggles and find a gear that is entirely inaccessible to most of his peers when the match scenario demands it.
Forging Ahead: Form and Focus
While the selectors weigh their options for the ODI format, Jaiswal remains focused on his current commitments. He recently showcased his form during the unofficial Test series against New Zealand A. Despite a modest start to the tour, which included a duck in the second match, the 22-year-old responded with the characteristic grit that has defined his rise to stardom.
Following his initial struggles, Jaiswal rattled off an unbeaten 155 in the second unofficial Test, followed by a masterful 102 in the third, proving once again that he is a player who thrives on momentum. This run of form has been a major positive for the Indian camp, particularly as they prepare for a high-stakes two-Test series against New Zealand.
With both India and New Zealand vying for a coveted spot in next year’s World Test Championship final, the upcoming series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, starting November 19, will be a crucible. Jaiswal, along with teammates like Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal, enters the series with significant time spent in the middle, providing a much-needed injection of confidence to the batting lineup.
As for the ODI snub, the questions will continue to mount. While the team management navigates a complex transition phase leading toward 2027, the “ridiculous” nature of leaving out a player of Jaiswal’s caliber remains a subject of intense debate. For now, Jaiswal lets his bat do the talking, remaining locked in on the task at hand: securing victory in the longest format and forcing the selectors’ hands once again.
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