Yashasvi Jaiswal's IPL performance crucial for T20 world cup selection

Jwala Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal's formative mentor, is sure the IPL campaign will be important in the opening batsman's quest to be back in contention for a return to India's squad for next year's T20 World Cup. The 23-year-old Jaiswal has done impressively in Test cricket but already has competition among openers for a place in the T20I team from Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who have been in top gear for India.

Singh underscored IPL's importance as a platform to make an impact

The T20 title event will be jointly hosted by defending champions India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026. "But yes, I think the IPL this season will provide him with that (T20 World Cup) chance because there are going to be plenty of matches and high-pressure situations," Singh said in a chat with PTI Videos on Friday. Jaiswal has managed 723 runs from 23 T20Is so far. Singh underscored IPL's importance as a platform to make an impact. "If you look at Indian cricket, IPL is the platform where we get the season's big hits because all IPL performances are considered, and you get noticed," he said.

England's Jos Buttler has moved to Gujarat Titans

"So yes, I believe this is a chance because he was picked on the basis of his 2023 IPL performance. So I believe this is a new beginning, and if he plays well, scores runs, that will do lot of good for him to be back in the team." Saturday sees the start of the 18th season of the IPL. Jaiswal, though, will miss his old Rajasthan Royals opening combination partner, England's Jos Buttler, who has moved to Gujarat Titans. Singh admitted that Jaiswal would miss Buttler but was sure the young opener would adjust.

"I feel he is more likely to miss Buttler because he used to always refer to him as 'Jos bhai' to me on call or whenever he mentioned him," he said. "So yes, when you have played cricket with a person for quite a while in a team as an opener, it will take a little bit of time to get settled." Singh, who has guided Jaiswal, advised the opener not to forget the bigger picture.

Rajasthan have a strong group of players

"But I feel it is always better to move on and get the correct combination because the aim is to win matches for your side, so you are in the team, so such things are always a bit uneasy initially," he added. "But Rajasthan have a strong group of players, and they have already played plenty of preparation games. I hope they have got the correct opening combination with Yashasvi too."

Jaiswal's chances to finish the IPL season as the top run-getter

Singh was also confident about Jaiswal's chances to finish the IPL season as the top run-getter. "I am more proud of him than words can tell. The dream which I chased as a player, I never could fulfill and my student is fulfilling it. He is a student no longer, he means much more than that to me," he averred."I always tell him that the journey is not only to play for India but to be the next legend, which I hope for."So, I hope to see him finishing as nothing more than the top run-getter of the league. He just needs to go out there and play with the attitude of being the best."