Yashasvi Jaiswal [Source: AP]
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been backed once again for India's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The left-handed opener remains one of the biggest pillars of India's new-look batting order, despite enduring a noticeable dip in returns over the last 18 months.
Ever since making his Test debut in 2023, Jaiswal has been regarded as India's next batting superstar. His performances against England, Bangladesh and even overseas in Australia earned him comparisons with some of India's finest Test openers.
However, the numbers tell a slightly different story since the start of 2025. While the discussion has largely revolved around senior batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal's decline has quietly gone under the radar. More importantly, his recent struggles have largely come in familiar subcontinent conditions rather than overseas.
As India begin another important World Test Championship cycle with the Sri Lanka tour, here's a closer look at Yashasvi's Test record since 2025 and why it could become a major concern.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's Test numbers have dropped significantly since 2025
| Stats | 2023-2024 | 2025-Till Now |
| Innings | 34 | 20 |
| Runs | 1766 | 769 |
| Average | 55.18 | 38.45 |
| 50s/100s | 10/4 | 3/3 |
(Yashasvi Jaiswal's Test numbers before and after 2025)
When Jaiswal burst onto the international scene, he looked almost unstoppable. Between 2023 and the end of 2024, he scored 1766 runs in just 34 innings at an outstanding average of 55.18.
During this phase, he smashed four centuries and ten half-centuries while dominating bowling attacks across formats and conditions. His marathon double century against England, consistency against Bangladesh and impressive Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance established him as India's long-term opener.
However, the picture has changed since 2025. Although 769 runs in 20 innings is not a disastrous return by any means, his average has slipped below 40.
More importantly, the consistency that once defined his batting has disappeared. The big scores have become far less frequent, while failures have started appearing more regularly.
That is exactly why the Sri Lanka series could become an important checkpoint in Yashasvi Jaiswal's Test career.
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Poor home performances have become the biggest concern
One of the biggest reasons behind Jaiswal's dip has been his performances in home conditions. Interestingly, he has looked fairly comfortable overseas.
He scored 391 runs in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, averaging 43.44, including a century. Later, he followed it up with 411 runs in England at an average of 41.10 with two hundreds.
Those numbers suggest that pace-friendly conditions have not necessarily troubled him. Instead, his biggest struggles have surprisingly come in India.
Home Record Comparison
| Stats | 2023-2024 | 2025-Till Now |
| Runs | 1091 | 326 |
| Average | 60.61 | 40.75 |
| Strike Rate | 76.29 | 65.33 |
| 50+ Scores | 9 |
(Home comparison of Yashasvi Jaiswal's Test batting)
From averaging over 60 at home, Jaiswal has dropped it to just above 40 runs per innings. Even more concerning is the decline in scoring rate. Earlier, he constantly kept bowlers under pressure with his fearless strokeplay. Recently, his strike rate has dropped significantly while the big scores have also become scarce.
For a batter whose biggest strength has always been dominating bowlers in home conditions, this trend certainly raises questions.
South Africa and Afghanistan series have exposed an unusual weakness
The recent South Africa and Afghanistan series have arguably been Yashasvi Jaiswal's poorest phase in Test cricket. Against South Africa, he managed only 83 runs in four innings at an average of just 20.75.
Against Afghanistan, he scored only 24 in the solitary innings. If New Zealand's home series in late 2024 is also included, the pattern becomes even more worrying.
Across the New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan Tests, Jaiswal scored just 297 runs in 11 innings at an average of 27.
That is a massive decline compared to the standards he had set during his first two years in Test cricket. Interestingly, he did score 219 runs against West Indies during this period. However, those numbers are slightly misleading.
A significant chunk came through his unbeaten 175. Excluding that innings, Jaiswal managed only 44 runs in his remaining two innings of the series, showing that inconsistency has started creeping into his game even against weaker bowling attacks.
The pattern suggests that his recent struggles are no longer isolated failures. Instead, they appear to be becoming a recurring trend in subcontinent conditions.
Sri Lanka tour could define Jaiswal's immediate Test future
There is absolutely no doubt that Yashasvi Jaiswal remains one of India's most talented Test batters. His overseas performances in Australia and England prove that he possesses both the temperament and the technique to succeed at the highest level.
However, international cricket moves quickly. If a batter continues struggling in familiar conditions, questions inevitably begin to emerge. The Sri Lanka series therefore arrives at an extremely important stage of Jaiswal's career.
A productive series could completely silence the growing concerns surrounding his recent dip and restore confidence ahead of India's upcoming Test assignments.
On the contrary, another disappointing performance on subcontinent pitches could intensify discussions around his place and consistency, especially with several young batters continuing to push for opportunities.
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