“Don’t have to be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi”: Indian cricket legend’s advise for Yash – Harbhajan Singh’s Crucial Advice to Yashasvi Jaiswal Ahead of GT vs RR
The build-up to the highly anticipated Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2026 season between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) has been dominated by one major talking point: the meteoric rise of RR’s 15-year-old prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Social media platforms and cricket pundits are abuzz with opinions, predictions, and analysis regarding the teenage sensation’s blockbuster performances.
However, amid the overwhelming spotlight on Sooryavanshi, former Indian legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh has turned his focus toward Rajasthan’s other blockbuster opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Before Sooryavanshi’s explosive arrival, Jaiswal was widely heralded as the premier young batting talent in Indian cricket. While on paper a pairing of Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal sounds like a dream combination, the on-field synergy has looked slightly underwhelming in recent outings.
The Hype Surrounding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Its Impact on Yashasvi Jaiswal
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is currently riding the crest of a massive wave of momentum following his destructive batting display against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His fearless approach has made him the talk of the tournament. Yet, Harbhajan Singh believes this spectacular rise has inadvertently affected Yashasvi Jaiswal, who seems to be curbing his natural, highly successful batting style in an attempt to match his younger partner’s raw, boundary-clearing power.
According to Harbhajan, Jaiswal is attempting to force the issue and hit more sixes rather than focusing on his traditional strengths. The pressure of watching a partner clear the ropes at will can often tempt even the most established players to alter their game, and Jaiswal appears to have fallen into this exact trap.
Harbhajan Singh’s Crucial Advice: “You Don’t Have to Be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi”
Speaking on Star Sports ahead of the crucial GT vs RR Qualifier 2 clash, Harbhajan Singh offered some invaluable tactical and mental advice to the Rajasthan Royals opener. The legendary spinner urged Jaiswal to stay true to his own unique identity rather than trying to replicate Sooryavanshi’s approach.
“If I am in the RR camp, I will tell him just one thing, ‘You don’t have to try and be Vaibhav Suryavanshi. You have to remain Jaiswal.’ Just be Jaiswal, he is far ahead of many players. Not many have the kind of game that he has,” Harbhajan Singh stated.
Harbhajan further analyzed the technical flaws that have crept into Jaiswal’s batting recently due to this forced shift in mindset. He observed that Jaiswal has been overcommitting to his shots and trying to muscle the ball too hard, which has disrupted his natural balance.
“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.
The Art of the Four-Hitter vs. The Six-Hitter
To illustrate his point, Harbhajan drew a clear distinction between the intrinsic batting DNA of the two Rajasthan Royals openers. He categorized Sooryavanshi as a natural six-hitter, whereas Jaiswal is fundamentally a world-class four-hitter who relies on exquisite timing and placement.
“He has never been that six-hitter. That’s the difference between Jaiswal and Suryavanshi. Suryavanshi is a six-hitter, and Jaiswal is a four-hitter. When a four-hitter tries to hit sixes, his body weight moves. So, if he tries to hit fours, the sixes will automatically come in that flow,” he added.
This technical breakdown highlights a crucial cricketing lesson: when a classical batsman focuses on finding the gaps and timing the ball along the ground, the momentum of their swing naturally generates enough power to clear the boundaries without compromising their balance. For Jaiswal, returning to this foundational philosophy could be the key to unlocking his best form in the playoffs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s IPL 2026 Campaign by the Numbers
Despite the recent scrutiny and the feeling that he has not yet hit his absolute peak, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s numbers in the IPL 2026 season remain highly respectable. Over the course of 15 innings, the left-hander has amassed 426 runs at an impressive strike rate of 152.23.
These statistics indicate that Jaiswal is far from being out of form. However, to help Rajasthan Royals secure a spot in the finals, he will need to convert his starts into match-winning contributions. Striking the right balance between aggression and his natural technical elegance will be critical for him as he faces one of the tournament’s most disciplined bowling attacks.
GT vs RR Qualifier 2: High Stakes in Punjab
The battleground for this high-stakes Qualifier 2 is Punjab, a venue that holds special significance for Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill, who will undoubtedly feel right at home. Harbhajan Singh weighed in on the match dynamics, noting that while the Rajasthan Royals hold a slight edge due to their recent winning momentum, the Gujarat Titans possess a bowling lineup capable of derailing any batting order.
Harbhajan emphasized that GT’s bowlers present a far stiffer challenge than what the Royals faced in their previous encounter against Hyderabad. The discipline and tactical execution of the Titans’ bowlers will make scoring runs a much tougher proposition.
“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,” Harbhajan concluded.
With a spot in the IPL 2026 final on the line, the tactical battle between Gujarat’s elite bowling unit and Rajasthan’s explosive opening pair will be fascinating to watch. For the Royals to succeed, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ability to anchor the innings and play his natural game alongside the aggressive Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be absolutely paramount.
