Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has put his weight behind Yashasvi Jaiswal as the backup opener for the ODI World Cup 2026. Jaiswal scored a fine century in his last ODI game against Afghanistan, scoring a fine knock of 110 runs off 86 balls.

The left-hander has scored 285 runs in six ODI matches at an average of 71.25, including two centuries. 

On who could instead be considered as an opener, Jaffer said, “Yashasvi Jaiswal, for sure. Sai Sudharsan, I feel, could do a fine job too. He has the technique for 50-over cricket, rotates the strike well, and plays very orthodox cricket. Shubman Gill is already there, and Ruturaj Gaikwad is another who plays in that mould. In 50-over cricket, you need that strike rotation. We see how Virat Kohli does it: he rotates the strike and plays very orthodox cricket. That is what you need in 50-over cricket, and I feel these names are better equipped to succeed.”

On the other hand, the former domestic giant highlighted that Sanju Samson might not be considered as a backup opener. Samson has amassed 510 runs in 16 ODI matches at an average of 56.67.

He added, “I do not see Sanju Samson as a backup opener for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027; I think there’s a slight issue of consistency with him. In one-day cricket, you require a bit more consistency because there is more time at the crease. Sanju has definitely scored a hundred in his last ODI, but he has played quite a bit of ODI cricket, and consistency has been an issue for him. I think India has a few better options than Sanju Samson. I feel Sanju should be left alone to play T20 cricket.”

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are currently the main openers for India in the ODI format.