India's batting coach defends the left-hander's selection for the West Indies ODI series despite Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill being the preferred opening pair.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been recalled to India's 15-member squad for the ODI series against the West Indies, which begins on September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram. The left-hander featured in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home but was excluded from the squad for the subsequent tour to England. His inclusion in the West Indies squad underscores the coaching staff's confidence in his abilities despite the competitive environment for batting positions.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addressed the selection dynamics on Saturday, clarifying that the preference for Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the opening pair should not be viewed as unfair treatment of Jaiswal. Kotak emphasised that the left-hander remains an integral part of India's plans as the team shapes its approach towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
"I think there is so much competition (for team spots) and so many players are performing. Jaiswal…we all know he is one of the best batters and whenever he gets an opportunity he performs. So he is part of the team," Kotak was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Why Jaiswal remains part of India's plans
Kotak drew a parallel to explain the selection philosophy, noting that having multiple quality players sometimes means not everyone can feature simultaneously. He stressed that Jaiswal's exclusion from certain squads reflects the depth of India's batting resources rather than any shortcoming on the player's part.
"As a support staff, we look after his skills, practise and his mindset and Gautam (Gambhir) also talks to him a lot, but sometimes you see, say if (for example) there are three very good wicketkeepers, only one can play," Kotak added.
Jaiswal has made a strong impression in ODI cricket since his debut on February 6, 2025, against England. The left-hander has played six ODI matches and maintains an impressive batting average of 71.25. He scored his maiden ODI century of 116 not out against South Africa in December 2025, followed by an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls in his most recent ODI against Afghanistan.
Mentoring and the role of experience in squad development
Kotak highlighted the role of experienced players in mentoring younger squad members, explaining how the coaching staff shares knowledge to accelerate development. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has been actively involved in these conversations with Jaiswal, reinforcing the team's investment in his growth.
"See, it is all about selling experience. They always do that. Whenever I have seen all the experienced players, even Gautam because he was playing, the level they have experienced, and when they see some player is going through a similar condition or situation, they always talk to them," he added.
India's planning for the West Indies series and beyond follows a series-by-series approach, with the coaching staff identifying specific conditions and challenges to address in each assignment. The upcoming New Zealand series, scheduled outside Asia, will present different playing conditions that the team intends to use as preparation for varied scenarios.
"So from now on, our plan is to do (planning) series by series. Luckily, we have a New Zealand series where it is outside Asia. So, there will be some different conditions - moisture, grass, all will be different," Kotak concluded.