Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes Yashasvi Jaiswal’s form has dipped in the ongoing IPL 2026. Ashwin said he expected a lot from Jaiswal but he has gone under the radar as Vaibhav Suryavanshi has impressed with his blistering batting.
Suryavanshi ended the league phase with 583 runs in 14 games at an average of 41.64 and a strike rate of 232.27. The left-hander’s strike rate is the best among the regular batters in the ongoing season.
Furthermore, Suryavanshi’s tally is the highest ever in the IPL for any teenage batter. On the other hand, Jaiswal has scored 397 runs in 14 matches of the ongoing IPL 2026 at an average of 33.08 and a strike rate of 159.83.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “I am surprised by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s performance. I am a little surprised. I had expected a lot from him, but I just have a slight inkling of a feeling that Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s display might have shaken Jaiswal a bit. If you remember Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra’s opening pair in Tests, Aakash Chopra used to play really well. He gave good starts with his 30s and 40s, but the way Virender Sehwag batted, it used to almost make Aakash Chopra look invisible. But he was not. Aakash Chopra did a good job in the Australia tour.”
Ashwin reckons Suryavanshi’s blistering batting has thrown Jaiswal off a little.
He added, “Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive batting has just thrown Jaiswal off a little. He has gotten out many times while looking to hit the ball very hard. I want to see Yashasvi Jaiswal bat well because he has the ability.”
Ashwin urged RR’s think tank to have a word with Jaiswal and show him some empathy, as Suryavanshi has outshone him.
“In Rajasthan Royals, Yashasvi Jaiswal was the talk of the town for the last two to three years. Suddenly, in front of the poster boy of Rajasthan Royals, there is another poster boy whose ability is throwing world cricket upside down. You have never heard that the best bowlers in the world, be it Pat Cummins or anyone else, come and talk about Yashasvi Jaiswal. We have to give it to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but we also need to give empathy to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Someone needs to put a hand on his shoulder and talk to him,” he elaborated.
RR will take on SRH in the Eliminator on Sunday.
