NEW DELHI: Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has questioned Yashasvi Jaiswal’s decision to take up wicketkeeping at the age of 24, urging the India Test opener to concentrate on his batting rather than attempt to develop a demanding new skill. Jaiswal’s reported move to work on his wicketkeeping has drawn attention ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season, with the left-handed batter seen wearing the gloves during Mumbai’s preparations for the Ranji Trophy.Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad recently revealed that Jaiswal had been working on his wicketkeeping skills as a possible back-up option to his batting and part-time leg-spin. Lad suggested that the 24-year-old could eventually aim to keep wickets for Mumbai or even India, although he admitted that he did not have complete clarity on Jaiswal’s plans.Jaffer, however, was surprised by the development and questioned whether wicketkeeping was a practical option for a batter who had not trained in the role from a young age.“I myself was surprised when I heard this. It is very difficult if you have not kept wickets since childhood. First of all, it is a very demanding job. Apart from that, where is that place even if he starts? There are Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Rishabh Pant. I am sure he wants to do it in white-ball cricket,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
‘He needs to focus on his batting’
Jaffer stressed that wicketkeeping, particularly in Test cricket, requires considerable preparation and cannot be mastered quickly. Rather than dividing his attention between batting and an entirely new skill, the former Mumbai captain believes Jaiswal should focus on strengthening his primary game.“It is very difficult in Test cricket. But I feel this is a bit of a joke because wicket-keeping is not an easy task if you have not done it since childhood. It is not an easy skill that you can develop very quickly,” Jaffer said.The former India opener also suggested that Jaiswal could be looking for ways to improve his chances of breaking into India’s white-ball sides. Despite establishing himself as a key batter in Test cricket, the left-hander has yet to secure a regular place in the ODI and T20I setups.“I think he is getting a little desperate to get into the white-ball teams. I think he needs to focus on his batting ahead of the Ranji Trophy and the New Zealand tour,” Jaffer added.
Jaiswal set for Ranji Trophy opener
Jaiswal is expected to feature in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. He is also understood to have kept wickets for around 10 overs during one of Mumbai’s practice matches ahead of the domestic season.Lad had indicated that Jaiswal was keen to explore wicketkeeping as a potential additional skill, while making it clear that the batter’s long-term plans remained uncertain.“With Yashasvi, I feel he is trying hard to start keeping wickets; that’s what I heard from him. He wants to eventually, in future, keep wickets for maybe Mumbai or go on to keep wickets for the Indian team. This is what he is aiming for, that is what I feel. But I haven’t got any clarity on that,” Lad said at a pre-season press conference, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
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