Aakash Chopra, a retired Indian Premier League commentator and a former cricketer, thinks that the Indian Premier League has a chance to make Yashasvi Jaiswal a regular in India white-ball team in 2026 provided the player scores at least 600 runs. He underlined that despite Jaiswal not getting the Orange Cap, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) beginner is extremely dependable during the last few seasons of the league.
At an IPL of 2025, Jaiswal became the seventh player to end with 559 runs at an average of 159.71 in 14 innings. The left-handed opener made 625 and 435 runs respectively in the IPL 2023 and IPL 2024 respectively.
In one of the videos published on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra, inquired the former India batsman whether Jaiswal would need how many runs in IPL 2026 to ensure he would be included in the Men in Blue team in the ODI and T20I teams.
“Score 600-650 runs. If you score that many runs, people will stand up and take notice, and, to be fair, the last three seasons have been outstanding for Yashasvi Jaiswal from a strike rate and runs perspective,” he responded.
Chopra voiced optimism that the 24-year-old would be among the top run scorers in the 2026 Indian Premier League.
“He has just not won the Orange Cap, but the guy has been consistently scoring runs. So I am hoping for Yashasvi Jaiswal to have a bumper season, and for him to be amongst the top run-getters. If that happens, the India cap won’t be too far,” he observed.
In just four One-Day Internationals, Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored 171 runs at an average of 57.00 for India. In 22 T20I innings, he has amassed 723 runs with a strike rate of 164.31.
“I am very confident that it can happen” – Aakash Chopra on whether Rishabh Pant would justify his price tag in IPL 2026
Aakash Chopra was questioned in the same video about whether Rishabh Pant would live up to his price tag in the 2026 Indian Premier League.
“I think it can happen. I am not bullish, but I am very confident that it can happen. He will bat at No. 3. There will be clarity of mind this time. There were cobwebs last year, he was returning from injury, and plenty was riding on it,” he responded.
The captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) might have a successful season while possibly batting at No. 3 for the team, the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player continued.
“There was a different pressure of the ₹27 crore price tag, and the team wasn’t doing well. There were plenty of things. This time playing with great clarity for the Lucknow Super Giants at No. 3, I feel Rishabh Pant could actually have a very decent season,” Chopra observed.
Rishabh Pant batted primarily at No. 4 or lower for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025. The wicketkeeper-batter scored just 269 runs at a poor average of 24.45 last season, despite hitting a 61-ball undefeated 118 in LSG’s most recent league match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
