Former Indian opening batsman and Ranji Trophy legend Wasim Jaffer has expressed surprise and criticism over 24-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal's recent decision to practice wicketkeeping ahead of the 2026–27 Ranji Trophy season.
The controversy arose after Mumbai Ranji team captain Siddhesh Lad confirmed during a pre-season press conference at the Wankhede Stadium that Jaiswal has been actively training behind the stumps and even kept wickets for 10 overs during a practice match. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer described the move as a bit of a "joke," noting that wicketkeeping requires years of foundational training from childhood and is an exceptionally demanding job—especially in Test cricket.
Jaffer further questioned where Jaiswal expects to fit in as a keeper when established players like Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan are already competing for limited-overs spots. Suggesting that Jaiswal may be getting "a little desperate" to secure a permanent place in India's white-ball setups, Jaffer strongly advised the young opening star to keep his primary focus on his world-class batting ahead of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign against Chandigarh and India's upcoming tour of New Zealand.
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Reported by Sports Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
