Champions Trophy 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal exclusion from India squad highlights selectors' inconsistency

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This is a classic case of inconsistency in selection policies. If the selectors emphasise "form over experience" but then make decisions that contradict this philosophy, it raises questions about their actual criteria for picking players.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's exclusion from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad, despite performing well in Australia, is a clear indication that young players aren't always given a fair run.

If Jaiswal was an automatic choice in the playing XI ahead of Shreyas Iyer even before Virat Kohli's knee injury happened in the first ODI, why was he suddenly sidelined then? And if form is the primary factor, then shouldn't Jaiswal's strong performances have secured him a spot?

On the other hand, Shreyas has been a regular in the middle order and has done well, so his selection isn't surprising. But the lack of transparency and the way Jaiswal was treated does suggest that experience often trumps form, no matter what the selectors publicly claim.

This isn't new in Indian cricket - players like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and even Kuldeep Yadav in the past have faced similar inconsistent treatment. If India truly wants to build a strong squad for the future, they need to ensure younger players get fair opportunities and aren't just used as temporary stopgaps. It does seem like a tough call for Jaiswal.

If the selectors dropped him to accommodate an extra spinner, it suggests they're prioritising conditions over long-term investment in young talent. And what can the fifth spinner do that the other four can't?

Given that he was a part of the ODI setup and had a good time in Tests in Australia, dropping Yashasvi Jaiswal entirely might feel unfair - especially since young players need consistent backing to grow at the international level.

Harshit Rana replacing Jasprit Bumrah makes sense in terms of maintaining the pace balance, but the handling of Jaiswal could have been more thoughtful. Such sudden exclusions can impact a young player's confidence, which the selectors should be mindful of rather than following the horses for courses policy!