Yashasvi Jaiswal is training to become a wicket keeper. Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad said on Thursday that India’s Test opener wants to keep wickets for Mumbai or for India. Jaiswal has already kept for about 10 overs in one of Mumbai’s practice matches.
A video of Jaiswal wearing keeping gloves went viral on his Instagram this week. Lad, however, admitted he has no clarity on how far Jaiswal wants to take it. He said Jaiswal is practising because he wants to add something more to his game.
The clips show a batter enjoying a new skill. What they do not show is the price an opener pays for keeping, and why almost nobody at Test level pays it.
“With Yashasvi, I feel he is trying hard to start keeping wickets. That’s what I heard from him. He wants to keep wickets for Mumbai or for the Indian team.”
Siddhesh Lad, Mumbai pre-season press conference, October 8, 2026
🚨 YASHASVI JAISWAL AS WICKET-KEEPER BATTER 🚨
Siddhesh Lad said 🗣️,
“With Yashasvi, I feel he is trying hard to start keeping wickets. That’s what I heard from him. He wants to keep wickets for the Indian team. That’s what he is aiming for. I haven’t got any more clarity on that.”
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) October 8, 2026
Insider Read
A keeper goes down into a crouch for every ball of a 90-over day. His thighs burn, his lower back stiffens, and his eyes stay locked on the ball for six hours. Then his side bats, and the opener walks out first to the freshest bowlers and the hardest ball, on legs that have done nothing but squat and spring all day.
That is why Test openers almost never keep. The tiredness does not show in the field but in the first hour of the innings, when feet that normally move early arrive a fraction late and a ball you would usually leave finds the edge. The gloves would give Jaiswal a bonus skill, but the cost would be paid with the bat.
Where Jaiswal Fits in India’s Keeping Plans
On October 7, the BCCI named the India A squad for three multi-day games against New Zealand A, with Dhruv Jurel as captain and keeper. Rishabh Pant is included subject to fitness, adding another twist to the race between Pant and Jurel. Jaiswal is in the same squad as a batter.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 11 | Mumbai vs Chandigarh, Ranji Trophy | Wankhede Stadium |
| October 24 to 27 | India A vs New Zealand A, 1st match | Lincoln |
| October 31 to November 3 | India A vs New Zealand A, 2nd match | Christchurch |
| November 7 to 10 | India A vs New Zealand A, 3rd match | Lincoln |
| November 19 to 23 | New Zealand vs India, 1st Test | Wellington |
| November 27 to December 1 | New Zealand vs India, 2nd Test | Christchurch |
Lad believes the Chandigarh game is the only Ranji match Jaiswal is available for before national duty takes over. With two specialist keepers already picked for New Zealand A, Jaiswal heads to New Zealand as an opener. The gloves remain a project for now.
Also Read:
