“Don’t have to be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi”: Indian cricket legend’s advise for Yash – Harbhajan Singh Advises Yashasvi Jaiswal Ahead of GT vs RR IPL 2026 Qualifier
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A Tactical Shift for the Royals
As the excitement builds for the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 between the Gujarat Titans and the Rajasthan Royals, the conversation has shifted toward the explosive talent of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. While the 15-year-old batting sensation is undoubtedly the talk of the town following his recent destruction of the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack, former Indian cricket stalwart Harbhajan Singh has turned his attention to the other half of the Rajasthan opening pair: Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal, long considered one of the brightest sparks in the Indian cricketing horizon, has seen his role scrutinized as the team chemistry evolves. While many anticipate the pair of Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal to dominate, Harbhajan Singh believes there is a subtle but critical shift in Jaiswal’s approach that may be hindering his performance.
The Difference Between a Natural Four-Hitter and a Six-Hitter
Harbhajan Singh’s analysis is rooted in the fundamental differences between the two batters. During a broadcast on Star Sports, the former off-spinner pointed out that Jaiswal appears to be forcing his game to mimic the aggressive, high-risk approach of his younger teammate. Jaiswal, who has compiled a solid 426 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 152.23, is traditionally a player who thrives on finding gaps and punishing deliveries along the ground.
“If I am in the RR camp, I will tell him just one thing: You don’t have to try and be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. You have to remain Jaiswal,” Harbhajan remarked. The veteran believes that by trying to force sixes, Jaiswal is compromising his technique. “He is far ahead of many players. Not many have the kind of game that he has,” he added.
Technical Adjustments Required for Qualifier 2
Harbhajan noted that when Jaiswal attempts to hit the ball too hard, his body weight tends to shift backward, causing the ball to hang in the air—a dangerous proposition against high-caliber bowling units. The advice is straightforward: simplify the approach.
“Yashasvi just needs to time the ball. He is also trying to hit the ball too hard, which is why his body weight is going backwards, and the ball is going in the air. All he needs to do is just back himself and play along the ground and time the ball,” Harbhajan explained. He further emphasized that for a player like Jaiswal, the boundaries will come naturally if the timing is correct. “Sooryavanshi is a six-hitter, and Jaiswal is a four-hitter. When a four-hitter tries to hit sixes, his body weight moves. If he tries to hit fours, the sixes will automatically come in that flow.”
A Tough Challenge Ahead Against Gujarat Titans
The upcoming clash is expected to be significantly more challenging than the Royals’ previous encounters. While Rajasthan enters the match with considerable momentum, Harbhajan cautioned that the Gujarat Titans present a much more disciplined bowling attack than the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“The match is in Punjab. Shubman Gill will feel at home. However, I feel Rajasthan is definitely slightly ahead because of the momentum, but with the kind of team and bowling attack GT has, they will not concede the kind of runs that SRH did,” said Harbhajan. For the Rajasthan Royals to secure a spot in the final, they will need Jaiswal to return to his roots—finding his rhythm, focusing on timing, and allowing his natural talent to dictate the tempo of the innings rather than falling into the trap of matching a teammate’s style.
As the cricket world turns its eyes to this pivotal Qualifier 2, the focus will undoubtedly be on whether Jaiswal takes this expert advice to heart and anchors the Royals’ charge toward the IPL 2026 title.
