Ashwin slammed the BCCI selection committee on his YouTube channel, calling the decision to leave Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the final two New Zealand ODIs "unfair" and "unfortunate".
When Shubman Gill was rested, Ashwin argued that Jaiswal, who hasn’t played international cricket in four months, should have been given the chance to keep his rhythm.
Jaiswal’s last ODI came back in January 2024 after a 37‑run knock against Sri Lanka, and his last T20I was against Bangladesh in November 2023. His Test debut was in 2022.
Selectors say the focus is on gearing up for the Test series, but Ashwin insists that ODI exposure is essential for a young batter’s confidence—especially with the 2025 World Cup on the horizon.
Fans on Twitter called the omission a missed opportunity, while former India batsman Virender Sehwag posted a supportive comment for Jaiswal, urging management to "keep the talent alive".
If India wants a deep bench for the 2025 ODI World Cup, the committee will need to rethink its selection strategy. The next test series against South Africa will be a litmus test.