Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned Yashasvi Jaiswal’s absence for the Afghanistan ODIs. Manjrekar slammed the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for picking out-of-form and unfit Rohit Sharma ahead of Jaiswal.
Rohit was troubled by a hamstring injury in the middle of IPL 2026 and could only manage 283 runs in nine matches at an average of 35.38 and a strike rate of 157.22.
On the other hand, Manjrekar recalled that Jaiswal scored an unbeaten century in his last ODI match. Jaiswal has scored 397 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 33.08 and a strike rate of 159.03.
“Sai Sudharsan has got a couple of 50s in the last set of innings playing at the top of the order for India in ODIs, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s last ODI innings was a 116 not out, and these guys are not playing for India. The selectors have gone with a veteran whose fitness is a question mark, and he is clearly out of form. Explain that to me, what is the logic behind that, what is the vision?” Sanjay Manjrekar questioned on Sportstar.
Manjrekar added that chief selector Ajit Agarkar should apologise to Jaiswal for not picking him despite his consistent performances.
“If they were compelled, and had to make a compromise and pick Rohit Sharma for whatever reason, the first thing they have got to do is pick up the phone and apologise to Jaiswal, because this is a young player who has done tremendous things at the toughest level, he is in his prime with a bright future ahead. You have a tailor-made top three in Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jaiswal, and you are not backing them, and going towards Rohit Sharma. Atleast with Virat Kohli there is come case,” he elaborated.
Manjrekar said the selectors should push for a transition in the ODI team and the young players are capable of giving the same numbers as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
“It cannot be that the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, believes that this is the right way forward for Indian cricket. I cannot imagine him thinking this is the right way forward. If you are going to focus so much on Rohit and Virat that you are going to ignore all the others, there comes a time where you look at the way forward for Indian cricket. All of these batters like Gill, Kishan, Sudharsan, and Gaiwkad are class. Give them 10 innings, they will give you exactly the same numbers that Virat and Rohit have,” Manjrekar stated.
India will play three ODIs against Afghanistan.
