Jaiswal averages 71.25 with two centuries in just six ODI appearances.
Former Indian cricketer and prominent commentator Aakash Chopra strongly criticized the national selectors for omitting young opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal from India's squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting November 4 in Auckland.
Chopra expressed his frustration on his YouTube channel, pointing out that Jaiswal has excelled whenever given the opportunity, even smashing an unbeaten century in his previous ODI appearance against Afghanistan.
Despite his stellar record—averaging 71.25 with two centuries in just six ODI appearances—the southpaw was left out of the squad. While most Test players have been released for the last two ODIs to focus on red-ball preparations, Jaiswal has been overlooked for the first three games as well.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra wondered how selectors could justify this decision to a young player who has done everything right on the field.
"What more should the guy do? When a guy gets fewer chances, you see what he does in them, and then you realize that he has done very well. He scores centuries, but despite that, his name isn't there even for the first three ODIs, and that is a bit of a problem because Yashasvi can't do anything more than this," Chopra said.
"You have only two designated openers. So can Yashasvi not be there as the third player? Someone will think from his point of view at some stage as to what we are doing with Yashasvi. Are we able to explain it to him? Are we able to justify what we are doing?" he added.
Aakash Chopra also questioned why wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who boasts an impressive ODI record (510 runs at 56.67 in 14 innings), wasn’t considered for the last two ODIs against New Zealand with several first-choice players leaving the squad.
"Sanju hasn't been kept now either. KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel aren't there. Ishan Kishan has been made the vice-captain there, but Sanju isn't selected. Sanju's ODI numbers are not that bad. He did well the last time he played," Chopra stated.
Instead of calling up Samson, selectors handed a maiden ODI call-up to Jharkhand's 21-year-old wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra for the final two matches.
"Please give him an opportunity, but you did not. You said you would keep Kumar Kushagra, which is okay. His domestic numbers are good, but why not Sanju Samson? It means you have made up your mind about Sanju Samson from an ODI cricket perspective," Chopra remarked.