He needs to be a part of the squad – Wasim Jaffer backs Yashasvi Jaiswal to be selected for West Indies tour

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has backed Yashasvi Jaiswal to be part of the Indian squad for the upcoming West Indies tour. Jaiswal was part of the stand-by players for the World Test Championship final against Australia.

The left-hander impressed with his batting in IPL 2023 while playing for Rajasthan Royals at the top of the order. The southpaw scored 625 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.08 and a strike rate of 163.61. Ergo, he was awarded Emerging Player of the Season for his consistent performances.

Furthermore, Jaiswal scored 315 in five matches of the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 while playing for Mumbai at an average of 45.

Wasim Jaffer said in an interview with Sportskeeda when he was asked about new faces he wanted to see in the Indian squad, “Yashasvi Jaiswal is definitely one of them. He has been a very prolific scorer across formats, whether you talk about the IPL, domestic cricket or India A cricket. I think he needs to be a part of the squad.”

Jaffer reckons Jaiswal should be kept with the national team so that he can be groomed in the best possible way and he should also get his deserved chance.

“He was given an opportunity as well this time. He was a part of the team but Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma were playing, so obviously he didn’t get a chance. I feel he should be kept along with the team so that he can be groomed, and as and when an opportunity comes, he should get a chance.”

On the other hand, Jaffer reckons Sarfaraz Khan should be rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic circuit. The right-hander scored 556 runs in six matches of the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season at an average of 92.66. The youngster has amassed 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches at an average of 79.65.

“Sarfaraz Khan – again he is one of the prolific scorers. I feel he should be made a part, especially of the Test team. He should also be kept because he has scored so many runs in the last three seasons in first-class cricket. So I feel he should be rewarded somewhere or the other because he deserves it.”

The former domestic giant added that Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah could be in the reckoning if they recover on time before the West Indies tour.

“I don’t know how soon Shreyas Iyer recovers from his injury. Jasprit Bumrah again, when he gets fit. Those are the two players, they have not got match practice, but Shreyas Iyer has been seen doing fitness drills. So if he is fit and available, he is probably one of those guys.”

India will play two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is on the West Indies tour.