First, there was external pressure. Doubts over fitness and age. Will his body last until the 2027 ODI World Cup? Well, there are more serious concerns. Now, Rohit Sharma is also under internal pressure. Despite scoring 143 runs – 16, 48, and 79 – in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series, the former India all-format captain can’t breathe a sigh of relief.
Yashasvi Jaiswal one-ups Rohit Sharma in Chennai
In fact, in a way, the pressure has increased. That’s because Yashasvi Jaiswal has just smashed a second ODI hundred. His last three scores in the format are – 116*, 4, and 110*. The southpaw opener missed the opportunity in the Lucknow ODI, with Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan both tonning up.
The reason why Jaiswal was even playing was that Virat Kohli had injured himself and was ruled out of the India vs Afghanistan series. Mind you, the southpaw opener was dropped after scoring an unbeaten 116 against South Africa in December. He didn’t make the squad for New Zealand or Afghanistan ODIs.
But, ‘Sod that,’ said Jaiswal. He rocked up and smashed another hundred. His ODI career has been stop-and-start with Gill and Rohit occupying the two openers’ spots. He made his debut against England just before the 2025 Champions Trophy but wasn’t taken to Australia in September 2025.
However, the champion batter he is, Jaiswal doesn’t let the omission pull him down. Knowing this is perhaps the best chance to throw his hat in for the ODI World Cup, he stood up. The chase wasn’t tough, but still, he needed to see it through. Rohit played fine himself, 79 off 69, but Jaiswal knew he had to outdo him and finished the game off with 3 boundaries.
Jaiswal’s unbeaten hundred has meant that Rohit has to be on his toes. Throughout the series, the veteran batter never looked at his best. Even in the nets, he wasn’t at his most fluent. This isn’t to say that come the India vs England ODI series, Jaiswal will start ahead of Rohit, but the 39-year-old can’t afford to slip up anymore.
“I just focus on my process, what is in my control, and try to work as hard as I can. There is a lot of support from the management as well, which is amazing – unreal communication. I just trying to convert when I get a start. In sports, especially in cricket, you’ve got to make it count if it is your day. Rohit bhaiya is always helpful. I always ask him questions to get help. Today, when I was playing dot balls, he just asked me to rotate the strike and keep the intent. I always enjoy playing with him; it’s always amazing,” he said after the match.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ODI career
15 – England (6 February, 2025)
18 – South Africa (30 November, 2025)
22 – South Africa (3 December, 2025)
116* – South Africa (6 December, 2025)
4 – Afghanistan (17 June, 2026)
110* – Afghanistan (20 June, 2026)
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