Wasim Jaffer questions Yashasvi Jaiswal's wicket-keeping move ahead of domestic season

India Test batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has drawn criticism from Mumbai batting legend Wasim Jaffer after taking up wicket-keeping practice ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season. Mumbai Ranji Trophy captain Siddhesh Lad revealed the move to reporters just three days before their season opener at the Wankhede Stadium. Lad stated that the 24-year-old left-hander is trying hard to improve his keeping skills with the goal of eventually keeping wickets for Mumbai or the Indian team. Wasim Jaffer expressed surprise at the decision on his YouTube channel, calling the move a joke and suggesting Jaiswal is growing desperate to break into white-ball teams. Jaffer pointed out that wicket-keeping is a very demanding job that is difficult to learn without a childhood foundation, noting strong competition for the role from Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan. The former India opener urged Jaiswal to concentrate on his batting instead, particularly with India's tour of New Zealand coming up next month.

Context

Wasim Jaffer is one of the most prolific run-scorers in Indian domestic cricket history, making his views on Ranji Trophy preparation and batting focus carry significant weight in the cricketing community. Multi-format cricketers in modern international schedules often face intense pressure to adapt their skill sets to secure spots across Test, One Day International, and Twenty20 formats.