Ambati Rayudu believes Yashasvi Jaiswal may need a fresh start away from Rajasthan Royals if he wants to rediscover his status as a leading IPL star. The former India batter feels Jaiswal is currently being overshadowed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose sensational season has made him the biggest talking point in the Royals camp. Jaiswal, who joined Rajasthan Royals in 2020, has scored 2,592 runs in 82 matches and remains one of the most talented young openers in Indian cricket.

However, the 2026 IPL season has not gone entirely in his favour. While Jaiswal has managed 426 runs from 15 matches and even captained the Royals twice, inconsistency at the top has hurt his overall impact. In contrast, Sooryavanshi has dominated attacks throughout the season, smashing 680 runs and currently holding the Orange Cap. His aggressive batting style has naturally pushed the spotlight away from Jaiswal.

The difference between the two batters was clearly visible during the Rajasthan Royals’ Eliminator clash against SunRisers Hyderabad. Jaiswal struggled to accelerate and scored 29 runs off 29 deliveries, while Sooryavanshi produced a stunning 97 from the exact same number of balls.

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Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Ambati Rayudu said Jaiswal deserves an environment where he can become the main man again rather than constantly sharing attention with a rising superstar. “He needs to change his team. Because he cannot just bat with the guy and be overshadowed every single time,” Rayudu said.

“He’s a star in his own right. If he goes to another team, he will win matches on his own. He needs that space and that platform,” he added. Rayudu also explained that Sooryavanshi’s larger-than-life presence could continue to dominate Rajasthan Royals’ batting setup in the coming years. “This guy will keep overshadowing people. It has to be a senior partner alongside him who can deal with it and be happy for him,” Rayudu stated.

The former CSK batter also named the Mumbai Indians as a potential destination for Jaiswal if he ever enters the IPL auction pool.

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“Mumbai Indians is a good team for Jaiswal,” Ambati Rayudu said. With Rohit Sharma nearing the final stage of his IPL career, Mumbai Indians could view Jaiswal as a long-term opening option for the future.