"I don't see him playing in the next 6 to 8 months" - Aakash Chopra on Team India star's future after IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal for scoring a match-winning century in the third ODI against South Africa. However, he opined that the left-handed opener is unlikely to play a game for India in the next few months.

India bowled South Africa out for 270 after asking them to bat first in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6. Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 116 off 121 deliveries in the chase as the hosts achieved the target with nine wickets and 10.1 overs to spare to win the three-match series 2-1.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that Jaiswal's century was the defining act of the third ODI, highlighting that the youngster is unlikely to represent the Men in Blue in the next few months.

"The biggest headline story was Yashasvi Jaiswal. This might be his last match for Team India for a while. I don't see him playing in the next six to eight months. Unfortunate as it might be, but this is the reality, because the guy in whose place he plays is this team's captain," he said. (1:35)

Chopra pointed out that Jaiswal will have to wait on the sidelines, with Shubman Gill potentially returning as opener in the next ODI series.

"He is not just the captain. He is also an incredible player. I am talking about Shubman Gill. He will return when the next series happens. Then he will only open. Yashasvi will be in the team, but he won't get a chance to play," he observed.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is not part of India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against South Africa and is potentially not in their plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The southpaw is a regular for India only in Tests, but Shubman Gill and company will not be playing any red-ball cricket till August next year.

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"He was feeling a little pressure" - Aakash Chopra on Yashasvi Jaiswal's century in IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI

Yashasvi Jaiswal struck 12 fours and two sixes during his unbeaten 116. [P/C: BCCI/X]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Yashasvi Jaiswal would have been under pressure as he hadn't played a substantial knock in the first two ODIs against South Africa and the preceding Test series against the same opponents.

"The first two matches had gone bad. Four innings in Tests had gone bad. So he was feeling a little pressure. Of course, it was a slightly reasonable target to chase, but he batted beautifully. He also set aside the problem against left-arm seamers. He scored a century and became the sixth Indian batter to score a century in all three formats," he said. (2:10)

While observing that Jaiswal can't be kept out of the Indian XI for long, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that the 23-year-old and Ruturaj Gaikwad won't find a place that easily.

"He is a good player. You won't be able to make him sit out for long, but the truth is that a place won't become available that easily. The same thing is true for Ruturaj Gaikwad. He also scored a century, but he too won't have a place in the XI once Shreyas Iyer becomes available," Chopra elaborated.

However, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that Yashasvi Jaiswal did what was in his control. He pointed out that the century has ensured that the Mumbai batter would be the first player considered whenever a replacement opener is required.