The exclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad has sparked considerable debate, with former cricketers and fans alike questioning the decision made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. Despite Jaiswal's impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his potential as an all-format player, he has consistently been left out of the T20I side, raising concerns about his confidence and future in the team.

Former India selector Dilip Vengsarkar has been particularly vocal in his criticism, stating that Jaiswal has been "hard done by" and that his omission is "unfortunate". Vengsarkar emphasized Jaiswal's consistent form across all formats of the game and questioned what more the young opener needs to do to earn a place in the team. He further added that "Nobody should leave a match-winner out of the team".

Jaiswal's T20I record is indeed impressive, averaging 36.15 with a strike rate of 164.31 in 23 matches. He last played a T20I in July 2024 against Sri Lanka. Despite these numbers, he has struggled to secure a regular spot in the team, with selectors often opting for other players.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed Jaiswal's exclusion, stating that the focus was on finding the best overall combination for the team. He also pointed out that Jaiswal was part of the previous World Cup squad but missed out this time due to the limited number of slots available. Agarkar expressed surprise that journalists did not ask about Jaiswal's omission during the squad announcement press conference.

The decision to leave out Jaiswal has also been questioned in light of Shubman Gill's exclusion. While Gill's recent form in the format may have contributed to his exclusion, some argue that Jaiswal should have been the natural replacement. Instead, the selectors opted for Abhishek Sharma as the frontline opener, with Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan as other options.

Vengsarkar has warned that Jaiswal's confidence could be affected by constantly being left out of the T20I side. He believes that confidence comes from performances backed by runs, and being repeatedly overlooked can be detrimental to a player's morale.

Former India opener W.V. Raman suggested that Agarkar might have had a private conversation with Jaiswal to explain the decision. While acknowledging that it is a tough situation, Raman expressed confidence in Jaiswal's talent and believes he will play many more World Cups. However, Vengsarkar offered a more straightforward opinion, stating that he "wouldn't have dropped him in the first place".

The debate surrounding Jaiswal's exclusion highlights the challenges faced by selectors in balancing current form, team composition, and the need to nurture young talent. While Agarkar and his team have their reasons for the decision, the criticism from former players and the concerns about Jaiswal's confidence suggest that the situation requires careful management. It remains to be seen how Jaiswal will respond to this setback and whether he can force his way back into the T20I squad in the future.