Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has identified Yashasvi Jaiswal as the player to watch when India face West Indies in the upcoming three-match ODI series. The series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, with the Indian team looking to assess several players ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Jaiswal has been part of India’s ODI setup as a backup opener and has impressed whenever opportunities have come his way. The left-hander has scored two centuries in six ODIs, strengthening his case as an option behind captain Shubman Gill and senior opener Rohit Sharma.

Pathan believes the upcoming series will be important for Jaiswal, particularly in terms of getting regular match opportunities. With India building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, the former cricketer feels the backup opener needs enough game time to remain prepared for a potential call-up.

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“There is one player who I will keep an eye on in this series. He is Yashasvi Jaiswal. Eager to see how many opportunities he gets, especially in this one-day series in front of the West Indies,” Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports.

Pathan also stressed that Jaiswal is currently India’s third opening option in the ODI setup and should not reach the World Cup without sufficient match practice. “See, one thing is sure: Jaiswal is your backup opener. He is your third opener right now. By the time you reach South Africa (for the ODI World Cup), it should not be that the backup opener you have hasn’t got ample opportunities,” he added.

India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series includes several players who could receive valuable opportunities. Naman Dhir has earned his maiden India call-up, while Auqib Nabi has received his first ODI selection. Nitish Kumar Reddy is also part of the squad.

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Irfan Pathan noted that the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who are involved in India’s Asian Games campaign, creates opportunities for other players to make an impression. “Shreyas and Axar and Washi (Washington Sundar) are playing the Asian Games, so they aren’t there. It is a huge chance for the rest of the players. It is like a second team where a lot of players are being tried,” Pathan said.