India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has decided to make a shock switch to Goa from Mumbai due to personal reasons, leaving a domestic powerhouse that laid the foundation for the left-hander's blossoming international career.
Jaiswal wrote to the Mumbai Cricket Association on Tuesday, expressing his wish to leave Mumbai for Goa, and the governing body swiftly accepted his request.
Jaiswal's shock move will see the left-handed 23-year-old play for Goa from the 2025-26 season where he could be appointed captain, though it remains to be seen how much time he would be able to give to the state side given the packed international calendar.
"Yes, it is surprising. He must have thought of something to make such a move. He has requested us to relieve him and we have accepted his request,” a senior MCA official said on Wednesday.
Jaiswal last played for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy Group A league round match from January 23-25 following the strict implementation of the BCCI directives that all India players should play domestic cricket if not on national duty.
In that game, Jaiswal made his sole appearance in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season along with India captain Rohit Sharma.
The two India stars flopped on their domestic return, with Jaiswal scoring 4 and 26 as Mumbai lost by five wickets to Jammu and Kashmir for the second time in the tournament's history.
While Jaiswal rose swiftly through the ranks of Mumbai cricket to emerge as one of the brightest batters in the country and duly earned a spot in the national side, it wasn't always a smooth ride for the youngster.
Moving from native Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh at the age of 12 to pursue his cricketing dream, Jaiswal went through several hardships. He spent nights in a tent before he was spotted by coach Jwala Singh who took him under his wings and developed his game.
In September 2022, Jaiswal was sent off the field by West Zone captain Ajinkya Rahane during the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone for disciplinary reasons.
Jaiswal had struck a double century — 265 off 323 balls with 30 fours and four sixes in the second innings of the game, but on the final day of the clash the West Zone skipper sent him off the field for excessively sledging South Zone batter Ravi Teja.
Fielding close to the batter, Jaiswal was reported to have fired verbal volleys at Teja. In the 57th over, one of the on-field umpires had a word with Jaiswal over his sledging, following which he was reprimanded by Rahane and the youngster appeared animated before leaving the field.
It is also believed Jaiswal's decision to move to Goa could be due to his displeasure with the Mumbai team management.
In the contest against J&K last season, sources said Jaiswal had a rift with a senior member of the side in the second innings after the latter questioned his shot selection as Mumbai were battling to save the game. In reply, Jaiswal shot back at the senior questioning his shot in the first innings.
“He wants to play for us and we welcome him. He will be playing for us from the next season,” Goa Cricket Association's secretary Shamba Desai said.
Jaiswal could well captain Goa when he is not on national duty.
"Yes, that can happen,” he replied when asked if Jaiswal could be a captaincy candidate for the state.
"He plays for the Indian cricket team so he can be the captain and we will work in the direction to appoint him. Regarding his availability (for the domestic competitions), we are yet to speak,” he added.
Jaiswal is the third cricketer from Mumbai in recent times to have moved to Goa after Arjun Tendulkar and Siddhesh Lad.
Lad and Tendulkar had moved to Goa ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The right-handed batter Lad served his cooling-off period before making a successful return to Mumbai last season in the Ranji Trophy.
Jaiswal has been India's first-choice opener since making his Test debut against the West Indies in July 2023 and since then he has played 19 games, cementing himself with stellar performances on the biggest stage.
He averages more than 52 in Tests including four hundreds and 10 fifties.
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