“Don’t have to be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi”: Indian cricket legend’s advise for Yash – Harbhajan Singh’s Advice to Yashasvi Jaiswal Ahead of GT vs RR Qualifier 2
The Pressure of the Qualifier
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season reaches its crescendo, the buzz surrounding the Qualifier 2 match between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Gujarat Titans (GT) has reached a fever pitch. While much of the pre-match discourse has naturally gravitated toward the explosive form of 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, former Indian spin legend Harbhajan Singh has shifted the focus to the other half of the Royals’ opening pair: Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal, long touted as one of the brightest prospects in modern Indian cricket, finds himself in a curious spot. While his talent remains undisputed, Harbhajan Singh believes the young left-hander is currently suffering from a crisis of identity, attempting to mirror the six-hitting prowess of his younger teammate rather than playing to his own strengths.
The Difference Between a Six-Hitter and a Four-Hitter
Harbhajan’s analysis, shared during a broadcast on Star Sports, centers on the fundamental technical differences between the two openers. According to the veteran, Sooryavanshi is an instinctive six-hitter—a player whose game is built on clearing the ropes with ease. Jaiswal, conversely, has built his reputation as a master of timing and hitting fours. This distinction, Harbhajan argues, is being blurred to the detriment of Jaiswal’s performance.
“If I am in the RR camp, I will tell him just one thing: ‘You don’t have to try and be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. You have to remain Jaiswal.’ Just be Jaiswal, he is far ahead of many players,” Harbhajan remarked. The former spinner noted that Jaiswal has amassed 426 runs across 15 innings this season, maintaining a respectable strike rate of 152.23. However, the current trend of forcing big shots has led to technical imbalances.
Technical Adjustments Needed
The core of the issue, as diagnosed by the veteran cricketer, is physical. When Jaiswal attempts to force the ball over the boundary, his body weight tends to shift backward, resulting in mis-timed shots that balloon into the air rather than finding the gaps. Harbhajan’s solution is simple: return to the basics.
- Focus on Timing: Jaiswal needs to prioritize placing the ball over raw power.
- Maintain Body Equilibrium: Preventing the backward shift of weight will allow him to stay balanced through the shot.
- Trust the Process: By focusing on finding the boundary with strokes and timing, the sixes will come naturally as a byproduct of his flow.
Harbhajan emphasized that trying to emulate a style that is not his own is hindering Jaiswal’s natural ability to dominate the game. By backing himself, Jaiswal remains one of the most dangerous openers in the tournament.
A Tactical Battle Ahead
Beyond individual performance, the Qualifier 2 clash presents a formidable tactical challenge for the Rajasthan Royals. While the team enters the match with significant momentum, Harbhajan warns that they should not expect a repeat of the bowling displays seen in their previous outings. He argues that the Gujarat Titans possess a significantly more disciplined bowling attack than Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“The match is in Punjab. Shubman Gill will feel at home. However, I feel Rajasthan is definitely slightly ahead because of the momentum, but with the kind of team and bowling attack GT has, they will not concede the kind of runs that SRH did,” Harbhajan added. The clash promises to be a battle of attrition rather than a high-scoring blowout, making Jaiswal’s composure at the top of the order even more critical for the Royals’ pursuit of a spot in the final.
As the teams prepare to take the field, the cricketing world will be watching to see if Jaiswal follows the sage advice of the veteran and returns to his natural rhythm, or if the pressure of the tournament continues to influence his tactical approach at the crease.
