Yashasvi Jaiswal is back—and Mumbai can feel the shift already.
Long before his teammates filtered into the Jaipuria Vidyalaya ground on a misty Tuesday morning, Jaiswal was already hard at work in the nets. The Indian opener arrived early, trained alone, and put in an intense hour-long session that sent a clear message: he’s ready to return to Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign.
With no cameras around and the session kept deliberately low-key, Jaiswal looked comfortable and confident, negotiating both pace and spin with ease. After a brief health-enforced break, the left-hander appeared right back in rhythm—an encouraging sight for Mumbai as the tournament schedule tightens and every match grows in importance.
Jaiswal had missed Mumbai’s first three games while recovering from acute gastroenteritis, but he is now set to be available for the next three to four matches, starting with the clash against Goa on Wednesday. His return is expected to bring an immediate reshuffle at the top of the order, with Jaiswal likely to open alongside Angkrish Raghuvanshi, while Ishan Mulchandani could make way.
For Mumbai, the timing couldn’t be better. As the group stage gains momentum, Jaiswal’s presence offers more than just runs—it brings authority, intent, and the ability to dictate terms early. On mornings when conditions can assist bowlers, having a batter who can seize the initiative up front often makes the difference.
Mumbai’s bowling mentor and coach Dhawal Kulkarni underlined the positive atmosphere within the camp and the boost provided by the return of senior players. Speaking to Sportstar, Kulkarni said the team’s mindset has been firmly focused on the immediate task at hand.
“The team is looking good, the guys have been in a good frame of mind, and one can see the results. We have just asked the boys to think about what’s coming up immediately, rather than thinking about the future. It’s always good to take things one game at a time,” Kulkarni said.
He also highlighted the wider impact of experienced internationals rejoining the squad.
“This means a lot. Rohit coming into the side and playing a couple of games after a long time has really boosted the morale of the entire unit. And now, with Yashasvi coming back—and more international pros expected in the next few games—it really lifts the whole group.”
With momentum building and key players returning at the right moment, Mumbai now look poised to hit a higher gear—and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early-morning session may well be the first sign of that surge.
