‘He should get enough chances as backup opener before 2027 WC’: Irfan Pathan on Yashasvi Jaiswal

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates his century during the third and final ODI against Afghanistan. (Photo credit: PTI)

New Delhi: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Yashasvi Jaiswal should be given enough chances in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. The 24-year-old is aiming to stake his claim as a backup option for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Pathan said the series presents a valuable chance for the Men in Blue to test their bench strength, with several first-choice players unavailable due to their participation in the Asian Games 2026.

“This is not the main team against the West Indies for the ODIs, and I feel that’s the right way to go. Bumrah is not there, Shreyas, Axar, and Washington Sundar are all playing at the Asian Games. You are going to get only a few matches before the World Cup next year, and in those games, you want to test your bench strength as well,” Pathan said on JioHotstar’s Follow the Blues.

“With the Asian Games and the West Indies series happening simultaneously, it’s a blessing in disguise, where a lot of young boys will definitely get a chance,” he added.

The former cricketer said that he will have his eyes on Jaiswal and wants him to make the most of his opportunities. He further added that the opener should get enough opportunities before the team reach South Africa for the ODI World Cup.

“One player I will have my eyes on, in terms of the number of opportunities he gets in this one-day series against the West Indies, is Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is the backup opener in the squad, and by the time you reach South Africa for the World Cup, your backup opener should have had enough opportunities,” he said.

Pathan also backed maiden ODI call-up Naman Dhir, who he believes offers India an extra bowling option in the series against West Indies. He said that Dhir is a great talent and got selected in the team due to his bowling abilities.

“I think he is a great talent. More than his performances in domestic cricket, he has been selected for his ability to bowl. A batter who can bat lower down the order, can bat in the top order as well, and can bowl handy off-spin, a player of that type has been missing a little bit in the ODI setup,” Pathan added.

The three-match ODI series against West Indies will begin on September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Prince is currently with the sports team of News9 Digital. He is an avid football and cricket fan, and an adventurous traveler on a mission to experience the best of both sports and the world.