Massive Lack of Clarity: Manoj Tiwary Questions Team India’s Call on Yashasvi Jaiswal as Gill Shines at No. 3

Team India’s batting order experimentation in the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan has sparked debate, with former cricketer Manoj Tiwary openly questioning the decision-making of the team management.

Tiwary expressed his concern after India opted to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal alongside Rohit Sharma, pushing regular opener Shubman Gill down to the No. 3 position. While the move was seemingly aimed at creating a left-right combination at the top, it has raised questions about clarity and long-term planning.

“It will just create a headache for the future and nothing else,” Tiwary said, highlighting the potential confusion such changes could cause in a settled batting lineup. He pointed out that Gill had already formed a successful partnership with Rohit in the previous match, making the reshuffle puzzling.

India had made three changes to the playing XI despite a comfortable win in the series opener at Dharamsala. With Nitish Kumar Reddy sidelined due to injury, the middle-order responsibility now rests heavily on experienced players like KL Rahul and Washington Sundar.

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The decision to alter the opening combination appears to be a strategic gamble, but Tiwary believes it reflects uncertainty within the setup. “I have no idea what they are trying to do at all. I see a massive lack of clarity here,” he remarked during a discussion.

Interestingly, despite the criticism, Gill responded in style. Batting at No. 3 — a position he has occupied only a handful of times in ODIs — he went on to score his ninth ODI century, reinforcing his adaptability and class. His record at first drop remains impressive, with 266 runs in five innings at an average of 53.2.

Tiwary, however, warned of the mental implications such changes might bring. “If he scores runs there, he will be thinking whether to go back to the top or not,” he added, suggesting that inconsistency in roles could impact a player’s mindset.

While he welcomed Jaiswal’s inclusion, acknowledging the youngster’s talent across formats, the former cricketer stressed the need for a clear roadmap. “It feels good to see Jaiswal play… but if Rohit doesn’t fire, the outside pressure will only grow,” he noted.

As India continues to fine-tune its combination ahead of bigger tournaments, the debate over stability versus experimentation remains at the forefront — with performances like Gill’s only adding more layers to the selection dilemma.