Jaiswal makes switch from Mumbai to Goa

In a surprise move, rising India star Yashasvi Jaiswal has decided to leave domestic powerhouse Mumbai and opt to play for Goa, newly promoted to the Ranji Trophy Elite division, for the 2025-26 domestic season.

- Sanjeev K Samyal

MUMBAI:

It's a fresh twist to the inspirational story of Jaiswal rising from the maidans of Mumbai to become an international star. Arriving from Uttar Pradesh with one big dream and a bagful of talent, Jaiswal made Mumbai his home from age 11. As a boy he spent the day grinding it out on the dust bowls of Azad Maidan, and the night sleeping in a tent by it. He was among the countless dreamy-eyed faces in the city's bustling maidans who rose to become the face of a young Indian cricket team, snapping up big titles in the shorter formats.

To this diamond in the rough, Mumbai's maidans provided the polish and an identity. Jaiswal has now decided to move on from that. There have been many past examples of players leaving the Mumbai Cricket Association and switching allegiance to another state at the fag end of their careers when their position in Mumbai's playing XI had become doubtful.

Jaiswal's decision to move to Goa Cricket Association (GCA) however raises questions for the simple reason that he is a player at the peak of his powers, an automatic choice whenever he available for Mumbai. The 23-year-old opener is the rising India star, having scored 1,798 runs in 19 Tests at a brilliant average of 52.88. All his four triple figure knocks are big efforts, including two double centuries.