No Jaiswal at Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026? Opener tweaks post amid speculation

Rajasthan Royals’ opener Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself at the centre of speculation regarding his future with the franchise after a cryptic Instagram post drew attention from fans and media alike.

The 23-year-old’s original post, reflecting on the Royals’ underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign, prompted questions about whether he was hinting at a possible departure from the team.

“Thank you, Rajasthan Royals, for everything. Not the season we hoped for, but grateful for the journey. On to the next challenge and whatever the future brings. YBJ 64,” Jaiswal wrote, alongside an image of himself donning the Royals` jersey.

The message, with the introspective tone and phrasing like `grateful for the journey` and `whatever the future brings`, triggered immediate speculation about his team switch ahead of IPL 2026.

The timing of the post further intensified the buzz, coming just after Rajasthan Royals were officially eliminated from playoff contention despite a dominant victory over Chennai Super Kings on May 20. The team concluded their campaign with a disappointing 8 points from 14 matches, their worst finish since the 2021 season.

With murmurs swirling about a potential exit, Jaiswal moved quickly to clarify the context by editing the original post. The revised caption softened any perceived finality, replacing `grateful for the journey` with `continue to be grateful for our journey together`. He also added an Indian tricolour emoji after the phrase `on to the next challenge`, hinting that his focus had shifted to national duties rather than franchise matters.

Jaiswal is now preparing for a significant responsibility on the international stage, as India embarks on a five-match Test tour of England from June 20 to August 4. Following the recent Test retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in May, the spotlight will be on Jaiswal to anchor India’s top order in what promises to be a fiercely contested series.

Despite Rajasthan Royals’ dismal season, Jaiswal remained a beacon of consistency and resilience. He emerged as the franchise`s leading run-scorer, amassing 559 runs in 14 matches, nearly 200 runs more than the second-highest scorer in the squad. His individual brilliance stood out in a campaign otherwise marked by inconsistency and underperformance from the rest of the batting lineup.

This article first appeared on Mid Day