Jwala Singh is a renowned name not just in Mumbai cricket circles, but across the nation. His ward, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has gone on to achieve massive success in international cricket since his debut. Jwala, who has been working behind the scenes with some leading talents, has a sharp mind for the game of cricket. He has also transitioned into the commentary role and gives his views on the game.

He recently spoke to CricToday and shared his views on various topics. 

There were reports that Yashasvi Jaiswal wants to try his hand in wicketkeeping. Have you spoken to him about this? What is your take on this?

I haven’t discussed anything with him on this topic, but yes, I have seen that he has been practising wicket-keeping skills ahead of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign. I don’t know how serious he is. Sometimes players have the urge to try something different in practice sessions, and he has that desire to break his limits. He may have had the urge to try his hand at wicketkeeping, but I don’t know how serious he is about pursuing it.

Only time will tell. 

Has he ever spoken to you about trying his hand at wicketkeeping?

No, I have never seen him keep wickets anytime, and he hasn’t spoken to me about this either. This has come about all of a sudden. He tends to try different things. He used to bowl leg-spin and off-spin, but the keeping aspect is a surprise for me. 

Wasim Jaffer recently expressed concerns over reports of Jaiswal’s keeping ambitions. Do you agree?

Totally agree with Wasim bhai. I have worked with him a lot when he was playing cricket.

As I said, I don’t know how serious Yashasvi is (about wicketkeeping). Has it happened all of a sudden during practice sessions? But he should only concentrate on his batting and not try to do anything that he hasn’t done in the past. He should focus more on his batting and on his run-scoring. He is already part of the Indian setup and has played Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is.

So, his first focus should be on batting, having already played over 31 Tests for India. Wicketkeeping is a tough task. At the same time, it is also good to have different skills in your resume, and they can come in handy when the team needs them.

Skills learnt can never go to waste, be it in cricket or in life. Having said that, I want him to focus on his primary role as a batter, and he is a very good leg-spinner, which hasn’t been utilized fully. 

Wasim Jaffer also said if Jaiswal keeps wickets, it would be in the white-ball formats, where he will face competition.

He doesn’t have to compete with anyone, neither with Ishan Kishan nor with Rishabh Pant. He has already done a lot as a batter and has a lot of potential to achieve huge things. He can become one of the best players in the world.

If he can keep improving and focusing on his skills, I don’t think he needs any other skill at this moment. But yes, if the team needs it, then having another skill is not wrong. 

How do you rate Yashasvi’s chances as the third opener for the 2027 ODI World Cup?

He has always been in contention for the World Cup as a third opener. Jaiswal has temperament, and he has made full use of the opportunities. Be it a ton on his Test debut or scoring two ODI centuries against good bowling attacks. He has played just six fifty-over games so far and hit two tons at a strike rate of above 90. 

He has also done well in the T20I format. He averages over 35 and has a strike rate of above 160. At the moment, Jaiswal is the only player apart from Shubman Gill who can play all three formats of the game. But the way Yashasvi has batted across all formats, I would say he has to be considered as the third opener, but he needs game time. 

Rohit Sharma will play from what we can see, but if Jaiswal is given chances to play, he can be considered for selection as a backup opener. When Rohit retires after the World Cup, then we may get to see Shubman and Yashasvi as the main openers in ODI cricket. 

We have a lot of aggressive batters in T20I cricket who score at above 200 strike rate. What does Jaiswal have to offer for a comeback in this format?

I feel we cannot ever say that he is not competing for a spot in the T20I side, because whenever he has played in the shortest format, he has done well with the bat. He represented India in 2023 and 2024. I still remember vividly when Yashasvi came back from Australia after scoring a lot of runs, and it was said that he was being rested from the T20 format. Abhishek Sharma emerged, and he made the spot his own with consistent performances. 

So, I don’t think Jaiswal was ever dropped from the team or left out of the side based on his performances. He only lost his spot in the team because there were other players who have done well, but if we look at his performances, he doesn’t lack anything. Although in this IPL, his performances weren’t as good as he would have expected, even then, he has played some good cricket. Cricket is all about ups and downs.

The top performers are given chances, while a player who puts in average performances has to go back to domestic cricket or IPL and score runs. 

But if given a chance, Yashasvi will score runs in the T20 format because he has the talent and ability. The selectors are the biggest judges in deciding which format to play him in. But having said that, he shouldn’t have been left out of the T20 side, given his performances. 

Speaking about selectors, Ajit Agarkar’s tenure just ended. How do you look at it, because it had its own controversies, especially in the media?

A selector’s job is never easy in India because there is huge pressure on him. Everyone has their own opinions. But the selectors can only limit themselves to picking 15 or 16 members in a side, and it is a difficult job. There is no criticism from my side, because we won two T20 World Cups during his tenure and also the Asia Cup last year. 

Our performances in red-ball cricket haven’t been up to expectations. We could have done better. New Zealand beat us 3-0 at home, and South Africa won in India by a 2-0 margin.  Now that he has quit, the incoming chief selector has to ensure that the Indian side does well in red-ball cricket as well. We have a lot of amazing talent in domestic cricket who can be tried. Sometimes we also tend to pick players for Tests, based on their performances in the IPL and in the process overlook the domestic performances. 

Both red-ball and white-ball cricket are different, and one needs to have lots of patience in the longest format. We have done well in the limited-overs formats under Agarkar, but could have been better in red-ball. 

Speaking about red-ball cricket, Aman Mokhade, another student of yours, has been scoring a lot of runs. What does he need to make it to the next level?

He scored five centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year and also scored a lot of runs in last season’s Ranji Trophy as well. He also did well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The way Aman played last season, and the way he scored his runs, was remarkable and made me really happy.

It is key that he works on his temperament. When you have scored runs and played for India A, you have to focus a lot more. He has a lot more to learn, but as a cricketer and character that he is, you will see him do well. 

If Aman can produce the same numbers this year as the season gone by, there is a chance that people will start talking about him. I am hopeful that he can become one of the contenders for the Indian cricket team. He is a good player across formats and has a very bright future. 

One of your old students, Prithvi Shaw, has been in the news in recent times. Where do you think things went wrong with him?

You cannot achieve extraordinary things or results with talent alone. According to me, he missed out on the hard work, focus, and dedication needed to take him forward. I met him a few days ago and explained a few things. He agreed with me and promised to work hard. Shaw still has talent. With one big season, he can recover and bounce back. He is also leading Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Whatever has happened needs to be forgotten. He has to look forward and show more commitment to do justice to his early promise. I will be proud if he can bounce back because he is young and has a lot of cricket in him. 

Do you think if he does well and has a big season, he can make a comeback in the current climate of Indian cricket, with so much talent around?

Returning to the Indian team is certainly difficult, because if we speak about red-ball cricket, the team has Gill, Jaiswal, and Sai Sudharsan. In the white-ball formats, we have a strong core of players in the ODI and T20I formats. 

Coming back to Team India is very difficult, but then again, if you are playing the game, then your aim has to be to play for the national side again. Sometimes, a miracle could happen, and if you score runs, then God opens the door for you. The same thing happened when he won the U-19 WC in 2018 and went to England but didn’t get a chance to make his debut. Murali Vijay didn’t do well, and it was unfathomable at that time that a batter like Vijay would be dropped and then Prithvi got a chance. 

As a player, you don’t think about who is out or whether there is a spot in the team or not. You always try to do your best, prove yourself, and never know what happens. If he has a big season, at least he can bounce back and ensure people talk about him. But it is all in Shaw’s hands, and he has to be optimistic about his game. He also has to be disciplined and work hard, which can take him forward. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back in the Indian team for the T20I series vs NZ. What do you have to say about his comeback?

A lot of people may not agree with me, but if a player is fit, performing well and helping his team win, he deserves to play for the national team irrespective of his age. Age doesn’t matter, because there are occasions where the selectors want to try young players, but we later realize that they have been blooded in early. So, if you are making a national side, the focus should be on the best possible resources and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the way he bowled in the last IPL and helped RCB win, shows his maturity as a cricketer and the belief he has in his abilities. 

He has worked hard on his game and is making a comeback after four years. This also sets a great example that if you have consistent performances in domestic cricket or the IPL, then you can come back. There is a feeling that when you are 30 or 32, the chances may not be given to you again, but this is a great move and serves as an inspiration to cricketers who are playing domestic cricket or the IPL. I feel we shouldn’t always look at young blood, but make good use of resources. The Indian team isn’t going to NZ to experiment; they are going there to win. 

In the same vein, is a comeback for Mohammed Shami still possible?

Any cricketer who steps onto the field, sweats it out and performs well does it because they want to play at the next level. If we see Ranji Trophy or Duleep Trophy, the next aim will be to play for India. It is up to the selectors whom they pick. If you ask me, we should go in with the best resources rather than experimenting with cricketers with potential. When the Indian team is being selected, match winners should be picked, be it Shami, Bhuvi or someone else, because winning is the key, and the national side has to win. 

There is a mindset in cricket, especially in India, that age matters, but we have some exceptional cases that have defied this logic. Does age matter?

The age factor is variable. Everyone views it differently. Rohit is a very good example. He is 40 (39) and still playing for India. It totally depends on your form and fitness, and whether the team needs you or not. If a team feels that a senior player has shown good form and fitness, then he can be picked. This also sends the right message to the cricketers who want to play. If someone feels there isn’t much future after a certain age, then cricketers who are in domestic cricket, for example, at the age of 30-32, will feel demoralized. I feel that if someone is doing well, they should be picked and age doesn’t matter at all. 

Wasim Jaffer recently said that Rohit should have stayed captain till the next WC. Do you agree with this statement?

I really agree with that statement, because if Rohit is playing ODI cricket, there is no harm in continuing with him as the captain. We give leadership to the senior-most member of the side, who is mature and has proved himself. Rohit Sharma is the senior-most in the side. He is mature, batting well, and, more importantly, very fit. If he is still playing, there isn’t any harm in him leading the side, but at the end of the day, selectors also take some decisions keeping the future in mind, and that’s their thinking. If players like Rohit or Virat are in the side and playing, personally speaking, I would have given the captaincy to someone senior. 

Rohit and Virat have been under pressure over the last 12 months. How do you see their performances in the last year?

Both of them have silenced the critics. They went to Australia and scored runs. They have been consistent and are playing cricket with determination. There is no doubt that both will play in the next ODI World Cup. Their aim is the 2027 tournament, and given how they have done in the last 12 months, they will play. Indian cricket also needs these two players, given the fan following and brand appeal they have. I don’t think any player comes close to them, and if they play, it is going to benefit the team. 

How do you rate India’s chances in the 2027 ODI WC?

The event will be held in South Africa, and we have seen in the past that the Indian team does tend to struggle when we travel away from home. India will have to work hard in the bowling department, and we still don’t know which bowler will do well. In the recent series against WI, we have seen bowlers getting hit. The need is to bring better balance to the team in the batting and bowling departments. There is still a year left. The selectors have the chance to form a good team, and they should talk to Virat and Rohit to assure them of their spots and head into the tournament with a better combination. I feel the team looks unsettled. 

What is your assessment of Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in and out of the side? Should he be given a consistent run?

Somewhere, I feel the current coaching staff prefer to play more all-rounders. Axar Patel or Washington Sundar are getting chances. The coach wants a bowler who can bat. Because of this, Kuldeep is in and out of the team, which is my own observation. A bowler like him should always be part of the setup, considering the control he has over his bowling, and he is a match-winner. In case our bowlers don’t do well in a game, he is the guy who can bring you back into the contest. He is part of the setup, but then again, it can also play on your mind and morale if you aren’t a regular member of the side, and that shouldn’t happen.”

Do you see Ravindra Jadeja playing the next World Cup?

We have spoken about Rohit and Virat. If a player is fit and is doing well and can fit a certain slot and play, in such a scenario, the chance has to be given, be it Jadeja or anyone, for that matter. It is also important what the team management thinks and what combination they want to go with, which is crucial. As I said earlier, from whatever I have seen of Gambhir, he prefers players who can contribute both with the bat and ball. We have seen how Axar Patel and other players were used in the Asia Cup and even in Test matches. Gambhir has a clear mind, and we can see Jadeja fulfil that role. One has to see how he performs in the upcoming matches. The World Cup is still some time away. We still have the New Zealand series, which will reveal a lot. 

From a cricket expert, we would like you to don the selector’s hat and pick the 15 for the World Cup.

(Laughs). Right now it would be difficult for me to pick the 15. Maybe when we chat in the near future, I can come up with a definitive answer. Many players are part of the white-ball format, but yes, some names can be considered certain, like Rohit, Virat, Gill, Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad. We can pick the batters for sure, but it is difficult when it comes to the bowlers, as there are so many contenders and there is domestic cricket as well, so we would have to wait a bit. 

KL Rahul is the top choice as wicketkeeper in the ODIs. Who can we see as the second choice?

Given the form Ishan has shown, he should be the second-choice wicketkeeper behind Rahul. We can say Dhruv Jurel is number three, followed by Rishabh Pant. 

No conversation can be completed without mentioning Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. What is your take on his talent?

I haven’t seen a talent like Sooryavanshi before. The ability and self-confidence he has, and the way he backs himself, I haven’t seen a player like him till now. He has done well in recent international games as well. He has everything needed, but with time in international cricket, you try to become a better version of yourself. The more time he spends with his seniors, the more he will learn, and I don’t want his talents to go to waste.  
The way he is being handled by the senior side has been top-notch, and another thing I would want to tell him is to be patient and not hurry to achieve things. Talent-wise, he is someone who can excite the crowd and bring people to the stadiums. Whichever country I have visited, people know him, and there is hype, but he has to do a lot more. 

Has Jaiswal said anything about Sooryavanshi’s batting or approach to the game?

Not really. Jaiswal focuses more on his batting, but I have met people close to Vaibhav. During my commentary stint in the IPL for Bhojpuri viewers, one of the fellow commentators told me the player’s story. His struggles, how Vaibhav used to bat against players twice his age and wasn’t afraid of taking risks. His father has done a lot for him, and the journey he has had since the last IPL and also in the Under-19 World Cup shows he is consistent. He is here to stay and has a long career ahead. 

Which are your top four teams for the 2027 ODI World Cup?

New Zealand, as they have done well in South African conditions. Then the hosts, South Africa. Australia, and I will always name India as the fourth team. But the way England has done well in recent times, you can say these are the top five teams that are favourites for the World Cup. 

Any of your students whom we can say are players to watch out for in the future?

Divyansh Saxena. He is a student of mine who is now part of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy side. He also played in the Mumbai T20 league and was the leading run-scorer despite names like Rahane, Sarfaraz, Surya, and Iyer being there. There are lots of hopes for him. Another player I want to mention is Yuvraj Samra, who scored a ton in the 2026 T20 World Cup. I went to Dublin for him, where I met Steve Waugh, who spoke highly of him. I feel these players will shine in the upcoming season, and you will hear a lot about them.