Team India and Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been urged and advised by Ambati Rayudu to leave RR and go to another franchise. For the record, it has taken just 1.5 IPL seasons for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become the team’s new poster boy. And that, despite the league being packed with bona fide legends and rising stars who have spent years building their reputations season after season. At just 15, he has been doing things scarcely believable for someone his age.
Amid his surreal rise to stardom, former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi’s Rajasthan Royals teammate and a superstar in the making, may eventually have to move on from the franchise. According to Rayudu, Jaiswal will have to settle for playing second fiddle to Sooryavanshi, whom he predicts will eventually overshadow the India batting star.
Ambati Rayudu’s take on the position of Yashasvi Jaiswal
Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo, Ambati Rayudu said, “He needs to change his game because he cannot just bat with the guy Sooryavanshi and be overshadowed every single time. He is a star in his own right. If he goes to another team, he will win games on his own. He needs space and a platform because this guy will continue to overshadow people.”Â
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has produced some remarkable performances in IPL 2026, amassing 680 runs from 15 innings at a staggering strike-rate of 242.85. He already has a century and four fifties to his name, while trice being dismissed in the 90s. Those numbers become even more significant when viewed in the context of his age and limited experience. And these are only the early days of his professional career, with an India debut seemingly on the horizon.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, meanwhile, has already represent India across all three formats. He is also among the few Indian batters to have scored a century in each format. In the IPL, Jaiswal has scored more than 2.500 runs at a strike-rate of 152.92.
Ambati Rayudu on the new franchise that Yashasvi Jaiswal could join
Ambati Rayudu also suggested which franchise could be the ideal fit for Yashasvi Jaiswal. He said, “It has be a senior partner, along with him, who can deal with it. Be happy for him. Be happy for what is happening and not be in a contest. You can’t compete with him. MI could be a great team for Jaiswal.”Â
Focus On Qualifier 2
Yashasvi Jaiswal or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or both will be best advised to focus on Qualifier 2 and job in hand rather than transfer to from one franchise to another. Ambatu Rayudu is entitled to his opinion no doubt and he has made his. But that does not take away the fact, that both Vaibhav and Jaiswal have to do the job in hand and that is make RR win against GT and qualify for the finals. All these comments from Rayudu is unwarranted and baseless. He should stick to his team like CSK or MI rather than commenting on Jaiswal.
Both the openers in question, need to keep their focus on the field than think off the field. If Jaiswal and Vaibhav starts thinking of what Rayudu is saying, then RR will suffer and GT will cruise to the win. Even if Jaiswal is getting overshadowed, what’s the big deal, if it goes onto help the team. Cricket is a team game, not an individual sport. While Rayudu is entitled to his, but these views and the timing of it is really questionable. One hopes both the openers bring out their A-game later tonight.
So, the stage is set for Qualifier 2 at New Chandigarh as RR takes on GT for the winner facing RCB in the final. The loser goes home. Let’s see how things unfold in the Northern Part of India.
Also Read: GT vs RR: GT’s Potential Plan On How to Dismiss Vaibhav Sooryavanshi