While most of the spotlight was on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earning his maiden India call-up after a sensational IPL 2026 season, another major development quietly unfolded with Yashasvi Jaiswal making his way back into India’s ODI setup. The left-hander has been recalled to the 50-over squad after replacing the injured Virat Kohli, who was ruled out of the Afghanistan series following a hamstring injury sustained at the end of the IPL.
The twin developments underline India’s ongoing transition in white-ball cricket, with selectors continuing to fine-tune combinations ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle and beyond.
“It’s just less than a week since he injured himself in the IPL final. Don’t know the timelines yet, looks like he might be fit for England ODIs. Not a definitive squad, don’t have a timeline from the physio yet,” Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said during the Indian T20I squad for the UK tour announcement.
Jaiswal’s return adds further depth to India’s top-order options. The left-hander has featured in only four ODIs in his career, all in 2025, but remains highly rated after a century against South Africa in his last appearance in the format. Despite breaking into the Test side in 2023 and establishing himself in red-ball cricket, his ODI opportunities have been limited due to intense competition among India’s top-order batters.
The recall comes at a crucial juncture, with India aiming to settle on a core group while still testing bench strength. Jaiswal’s ability to provide aggressive starts at the top makes him a valuable asset in the evolving 50-over structure.
SOORYAVANSHI STORM INTO UK PLANS
Meanwhile, all eyes were firmly on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been rewarded for a breathtaking IPL 2026 campaign with his maiden India call-up for the upcoming India T20 series against England and Ireland. The teenage prodigy amassed 776 runs from 16 innings, winning the Orange Cap in a season that announced his arrival on the global stage.
Sooryavanshi’s performances powered Rajasthan Royals to Qualifier 2, where their campaign eventually ended against Gujarat Titans. Along the way, he produced match-winning knocks and repeatedly dismantled bowling attacks with fearless strokeplay, coming within touching distance of breaking Chris Gayle’s iconic fastest century record.
The youngster’s breakthrough season saw him sweep the top individual honours, including the Most Valuable Player award, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, and Super Sixes of the Season. His consistency, combined with explosive hitting, has fast-tracked him into India’s long-term white-ball plans, with selectors now keen to integrate him into the national setup in a controlled manner.
Sooryavanshi is currently in Sri Lanka for the India A tour of Sri Lanka for the upcoming Tri-nation series against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
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