“A sense of unease...”: Yashasvi Jaiswal opens up about playing with Rohit Sharma

The presence of seniors in a team serves as a guiding light for the up and coming crop. From refining game techniques to building mental strength, veterans can always help shape the mindset of amateurs. However, seniority can also make youngsters wary of getting an earful from an experienced star. In the case of Yashasvi Jaiswal and former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, the lack of scolding from the veteran actually makes him worry. In his latest interaction, the young Indian opener opened up about the bond he shares with Rohit Sharma and how the senior has nurtured his growth.

Yashasvi Jaiswal talks about his rapport with Rohit Sharma 

Yashasvi Jaiswal has built a formidable rapport with Rohit Sharma during his time with the national side, having spent much of his early international career opening the innings under the mentorship of his senior Mumbai teammate. That bond at the top of the order naturally led to Jaiswal being viewed as one of India’s most promising long-term prospects.

Given the time they’ve spent together, it is hardly surprising that the two left-right openers share an instinctive on-field understanding. The former Indian skipper may carry an easygoing and affable image, but beneath that calm exterior lies a focused leader who knows when to push the younger players for more. During a recent conversation, the young Indian opener spoke at length about this distinctive blend in Rohit’s personality, how the former captain balances a cheerful, relaxed demeanour with a sharp cricketing mind, both as a mentor and as his opening partner.

“Every time Rohit bhai scolds us, it has a lot of love and indulgence mixed with it,” explained Jaiswal. “In fact, if Rohit bhai isn’t scolding you, there is a sense of unease as to what happened, why isn’t he scolding. Has he felt bad about my action.”

The observations made by Jaiswal align with what many have long believed about Rohit Sharma, a man who shaped their dynamic during Jaiswal’s formative years in international cricket. Even after stepping down from the captaincy, Rohit continues to command immense respect within the dressing room and remains one of the team’s central figures.

Alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit now serves as one of the senior-most pillars in the India ODI squad, as noted recently during the Australia Tour and the IND vs SA series. The veterans, now out of their leading roles, continue to bear the responsibility of guiding the younger generation. Their presence at the top of the batting order underscores this role.

Yashasvi Jaiswal spoke candidly about how their advice and encouragement played a major part in his memorable century in Visakhapatnam. The 23-year-old notched up his maiden ODI ton in the final IND vs SA ODI in Vizag after earning the opportunity to be a part of the India Playing XI in the injury-marred absence of Shubman Gill.

“If they are there, we all feel relaxed. When I was playing the third ODI, Rohit bhai told me to relax and remain calm and take time as he would take risks. How many people will do that?” said Jaiswal. “Similarly, Virat paaji gave me small targets and told me that we will have to win it ourselves.”

Although Jaiswal is currently regarded as the reserve opener in ODIs, behind Rohit and newly appointed captain Shubman Gill, his recent milestone has bolstered India’s confidence in him as they look ahead to the coming years.