Yashasvi Jaiswal delivered a pointed message to national selectors on Sunday, smashing a match-winning century to guide Mumbai to a massive victory over Haryana in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Chasing a steep target of 235 at the DY Patil Academy ground, Jaiswal scored 101 off just 50 balls, marking his maiden century in the tournament.
The left-hander, who has not featured in a T20I for India in 15 months, anchored the second-highest successful chase in the tournament's history. Unlike typical power-hitting displays, Jaiswal relied on precision, hitting 16 fours and just one six. He celebrated the milestone by touching the Mumbai crest on his jersey, eventually falling with the target just seven runs away while attempting to boost the Net Run Rate.
While Jaiswal provided the longevity, Sarfaraz Khan injected the necessary explosive momentum during the middle overs. Coming in after the fall of Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz tore into the Haryana bowling attack, blasting a 17-ball half-century on his way to 64 off 25 deliveries. The pair stitched together a decisive 88-run partnership off just 37 balls, which effectively broke the back of the chase.
With the IPL auction on the horizon, Sarfaraz’s fearless inning; comprising of nine boundaries and three sixes, served as a timely reminder of his capabilities in the shortest format.
The innings held particular weight for Jaiswal, who was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad but has seen limited white-ball opportunities since. Despite a recent maiden ODI century against South Africa, he remains outside the current T20I opening rotation.
Reflecting on his ambitions recently, Jaiswal had stated, "My dream is to play T20 World Cup but I try to focus on my game and will wait for my time." Sunday's performance was a direct response to that exclusion, proving his ability to score rapidly in high-pressure chases.
Mumbai eventually crossed the line with four wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare, keeping their Super League campaign alive after a previous loss to Hyderabad. Jaiswal was named Player of the Match for his century, but in a gesture acknowledging the impact of the middle-order assault, he called Sarfaraz up to share the award with him.