When the BCCI unveiled India’s squad for the global tournament and the upcoming New Zealand T20I series, attention initially centred on the return of several familiar names. But as the list was scanned more closely, the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal stood out — and the silence around it only deepened the intrigue.

The omission has now drawn sharp criticism from former India cricketer and ex-chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who has publicly questioned the decision to leave out the young opener despite his consistent performances across formats.

Calling the snub “unfortunate,” Vengsarkar said he could not understand the logic behind repeatedly overlooking a batter who has delivered whenever given an opportunity. Speaking to PTI, the former selector expressed his disbelief at the continued exclusion of Jaiswal from India’s T20 plans.

“It is unfortunate that Yashasvi is being left out time and again for no fault of his. He has been in tremendous form across all formats of the game, and I don't know what else he has to do to get into the team,” Vengsarkar said.

Jaiswal’s rise has been one of Indian cricket’s most compelling recent stories. While he has cemented his place in the Test side with a series of impactful performances, opportunities in white-ball cricket, particularly in T20Is, have been limited.

Yet, whenever he has featured, the left-handed opener has showcased his ability to dominate attacks with pace and intent.

The latest squad announcement has also left out other notable names such as Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma, fuelling debate among fans and former players over the direction of India’s T20 selection strategy ahead of a major ICC event.

Vengsarkar, however, went beyond questioning selection logic and warned of deeper consequences. He cautioned that repeated omissions could begin to affect a player’s confidence — an intangible yet crucial factor at the highest level.

“You are bound to lose confidence if you are made to feel that you are not required in one format. It will affect his confidence, and this game is all about confidence, and confidence comes when you have performances backed by runs,” he added.

As India shapes its roadmap toward the T20 World Cup 2026, the debate over Jaiswal’s exclusion has added a layer of uncertainty to an otherwise forward-looking squad announcement. Whether the selectors revisit their stance — or whether Jaiswal finds his way back into the white-ball set-up through other avenues — remains to be seen.