Former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra Serious questions have been raised on the treatment of national selectors. Yeshsavi Jaiswal The following Rajasthan RoyalsImpressive win against Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. Chasing a tough 223 in New Chandigarh on 28 April, Rajasthan Royals got off to a strong start, with Jaiswal playing a key role. The left-hander scored a 27-ball 51 as RR chased down the target with six wickets to spare and four balls to spare. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed surprise that Jaiswal is not even part of the conversation about India’s T20I squad despite his consistent performances. “Look at his numbers in the last three years. He was part of the team that won the T20 World Cup 2024, and then he got dropped. Everyone gets picked and dropped, but nobody talks about it. I am not saying that he should be elected. I think there is no vacancy,” Chopra said. He further emphasized that the opener has continued to deliver. IPLMaintaining both a healthy average and strikeout rate over multiple seasons. “If you look at his IPL numbers in the last three years, he has scored runs and his average and strike rate are good. He is doing everything right. However, forget about selection, he is not even part of the conversation. What was done after 2024 was like throwing a fly out of milk. What was wrong with this guy?” He added. Chopra also pointed out a subtle change in Jaiswal’s batting style this season, suggesting the youngster aims to make a more sustained impact than just an explosive start. He noted that Jaiswal appeared more measured, looking to build his innings beyond the powerplay, which was evident in the chase against PBKS. In the same discussion, Chopra reserved special praise for teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who provided the initial momentum with a blistering knock. “The guy is getting wiser. He’s getting better day by day. Arsdeep Singh bowled yorkers on the first two balls, and he defended them. He realized Arsdeep has to do something different because his reputation has come before him. Arsdeep brought the ball in, it was on leg, and he played a pickup shot for a six,” Chopra said. He highlighted how Suryavanshi’s style forced the bowlers to adjust, ultimately shifting the pressure back to Punjab. “The pressure shifted. After that, he got a short ball outside off, and he hit it to the left of point. That tells you he has a little more time. He tries to play more shots at mid-on and now the bowler. He was aggressive earlier, and now he has become so mature. His upside is fantastic,” he observed. Suryavanshi scored 43 off just 16 balls, with Jaiswal creating a blistering opening stand of 51 in just 3.2 overs, setting the perfect platform for Rajasthan Royals’ successful chase.
