When Rahane Sent Yashasvi Jaiswal Off the Field

Long before Yashasvi Jaiswal became one of India’s brightest batting stars, he received a valuable lesson in discipline from veteran cricketer Ajinkya Rahane during the 2022 Duleep Trophy final in Coimbatore.

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The incident took place during the summit clash between West Zone and South Zone at the SNR College Ground. While Jaiswal had already put West Zone in a commanding position with a magnificent double century, Rahane showed that no player is bigger than the game.

On the fifth day, South Zone resumed their innings at 154/6 while chasing a daunting target of 529 runs. West Zone needed just four wickets to seal the title. During the tense final session, Jaiswal was fielding at forward short leg, one of the closest positions to the batter.

According to reports, Jaiswal was heard making comments towards the South Zone batters. The opposition complained to the umpires, who immediately spoke to West Zone captain Ajinkya Rahane. The experienced skipper advised Jaiswal to stay calm and focus on his game.

However, the situation escalated shortly afterwards when a verbal exchange broke out between Jaiswal and the batters. Rahane intervened personally, calmed the players, and warned the young cricketer about maintaining discipline on the field.

Despite the matter appearing settled, Rahane took a strong stand. He instructed Jaiswal to leave the field temporarily as a disciplinary measure. Respecting his captain’s decision, Jaiswal walked off the ground and spent a few overs in the pavilion before returning.

When he came back, Rahane moved him away from the close-in fielding position and stationed him in a deeper area of the field. The message was clear — competitive spirit is welcome, but players must remain within the limits of sportsmanship.

The moment became a powerful example of Rahane’s leadership, demonstrating that maintaining the spirit of the game is more important than protecting even the team’s best performer.

Match Recap

West Zone posted 270 runs in the first innings, with Het Patel top-scoring with 98. South Zone responded with 327 runs, thanks largely to Hanuma Vihari’s brilliant 118.

In the second innings, West Zone piled up a massive 585 runs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal smashing 265 runs that included 30 boundaries and four sixes. Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten on 127, while Shreyas Iyer and Het Patel contributed half-centuries.

Chasing 529 runs for victory, South Zone collapsed for 234 runs against a disciplined West Zone bowling attack. Shams Mulani claimed four wickets as West Zone sealed the Duleep Trophy title.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Inspiring Rise

Jaiswal’s journey to the top is one of Indian cricket’s most inspiring stories. Born in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, he moved to Mumbai as a youngster and struggled financially while pursuing his cricket dream. He reportedly lived in tents near cricket grounds and even sold street food to support himself.

In 2015, he grabbed attention by scoring an unbeaten 319 runs and taking 13 wickets in a Giles Shield match. In 2019, he became the youngest player to score a double century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after smashing 203 runs against Jharkhand.

His breakthrough came in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2020, where he scored 400 runs and was named Player of the Tournament. Rajasthan Royals later backed his talent, retaining him ahead of the 2022 IPL season.

Jaiswal also equalled the record of reaching 1,000 First-Class runs in just 13 innings, highlighting the remarkable consistency that has made him one of India’s most promising cricketers.