Yashasvi Jaiswal is already a well-established India Test batter, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still waiting for his first taste of a top-level debut. Jaiswal has turned out in 55 international matches for India, whereas Sooryavanshi’s IPL journey is still in its early phase. The Rajasthan Royals opener is in his seventh season of the IPL, and the younger talent is in only his second. Yet, when it comes to opening-partner comparison—both in terms of runs and popularity—Sooryavanshi has made the bigger impact. Jaiswal has managed 426 runs across 15 IPL matches, which is not a bad return by any stretch. But those figures pale beside Sooryavanshi’s tally of 680 runs and rising, alongside a wave of fan attention that has even eclipsed a modern great like Virat Kohli.
That momentum has naturally sparked debate about whether Jaiswal should consider a change of franchise. Ambati Rayudu believes the time has come for the India Test star to step out of the shadow that has formed around his opening partner. Rayudu points out that Jaiswal has been a key part of the Rajasthan setup since 2020, but argues that moving on could help him build a clearer identity with a different team.
In this IPL season, the comparisons between the two batters have been frequent. Ravichandran Ashwin has previously observed that the more experienced opener appears visibly unsettled, and that the resulting lack of rhythm has not allowed him to deliver the kind of performances expected. Adding his view, Rayudu suggested Jaiswal should look for a fresh platform where he can become the main attraction for another franchise rather than always operating in the background of Sooryavanshi’s spotlight.
“Overshadowed every single time”
Rayudu’s argument was straightforward: Jaiswal needs to change teams. He believes that simply batting alongside Sooryavanshi repeatedly, without a more supportive structure around him, can lead to him being overshadowed. Rayudu also said that Jaiswal is a star on his own right and that if he joins a different franchise, he can win games without needing to fight for attention.
“He needs to change his team. Because he cannot just bat with the guy and be overshadowed every single time. He’s a star in his own right. If he goes to another team, he will win matches on his own. He needs that space and that platform. Because this guy will keep overshadowing people, it has to be a senior partner alongside him who can deal with it and be happy for him. Be happy for what is happening and not compete with the non-striker,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo.
Jaiswal’s next home?
That raises the obvious question: which of the remaining nine franchises could be the next destination for Jaiswal? Rayudu’s answer is the Mumbai Indians. He reasons that Rohit Sharma’s long-term future with MI may be limited, and with Jaiswal already competing directly with Rohit in the Indian ODI setup, the best fit would be the franchise where Jaiswal originally developed his cricketing roots.
Rayudu also highlighted that Jaiswal has played all his First-Class cricket for Mumbai—covering the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. With that background, he believes the connection is strong enough to make the choice “crystal clear.”
“Mumbai Indians is a good team for Jaiswal,” Rayudu said.
