Yashasvi Jaiswal’s start to IPL 2025 has been far from ideal, especially considering the high expectations surrounding him. The Rajasthan Royals opener has managed just 107 runs from five matches, with a bulk of those—67—coming in a single innings. It’s a stark contrast to the form he displayed over the last two seasons. In IPL 2023, the young left-hander amassed a staggering 625 runs in 14 innings, and followed it up with a solid 435 runs from 15 innings in IPL 2024.
These performances made him one of the most promising batters in Indian cricket, prompting RR to retain him for a hefty ₹18 crore ahead of the mega auction. But as the current season unfolds, doubts are beginning to surface.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali didn’t hold back in his critique, suggesting that Jaiswal may have lost his hunger for the game. “His stomach is full. He’s not focusing on cricket,” Basit said bluntly on his YouTube channel. “This is my message—cricket can bring you down very hard. Just look at Prithvi Shaw. You have to love the game and stay passionate.”
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Basit’s comparison with Prithvi Shaw is telling. Once hailed as the next big thing after a dazzling Test debut in 2018, Shaw’s career has since stalled amid form dips and off-field issues. He even went unsold in the last IPL auction—a cautionary tale Jaiswal would do well to heed.
Off the field, Jaiswal made headlines by switching domestic sides, moving from Mumbai to Goa amid reported tensions with Ajinkya Rahane. “Goa offered me a leadership role. When I’m not on India duty, I’ll be committed to helping Goa perform well,” Yashasvi Jaiswal told The Indian Express.
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Meanwhile, Basit also weighed in on India’s senior players, applauding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for retiring from T20Is after the World Cup triumph. “It was the right decision. Virat could’ve continued, but India has enough talent waiting,” he added.
