Yashasvi Jaiswal has made a surprising decision that’s causing a stir in the world of domestic cricket. On Tuesday, he reached out to the Mumbai Cricket Association to share his wish to leave his home team of Mumbai and head to Goa to play. The association replied quickly, accepting his request without hesitation. Starting from the 2025-26 season, the 23-year-old left-handed batsman will don the Goa jersey, and there’s a possibility he could take on a leadership role there, though it’s unclear how much time he’ll have with the Goa team considering his busy schedule with the national team.
In a recent chat about his choice, Jaiswal revealed how hard this decision was for him. “This was a very tough decision. Everything I am today, I owe to Mumbai. The city has shaped me into who I am, and I will always be grateful to the Mumbai Cricket Association, he said when he spoke to The Indian Express. He also mentioned that moving to Goa offers him a fresh opportunity, especially in terms of taking on a leadership role. “My primary aim is to perform well for India, and whenever I’m not playing for the national team, my focus will be on doing my best for Goa and helping them succeed in tournaments. This opportunity felt important to me, and I decided to go for it,” he explained.
Jaiswal’s last game for Mumbai was against Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy held from January 23-25. This was all part of the strict guidelines set by the BCCI, which requires Indian players to participate in domestic cricket when they’re not on international duty.
A senior official from the MCA expressed some surprise at his decision. “Yes, it’s a bit unexpected. He must have thought this through to make such a move. He asked us to let him go, and we’ve accepted his request,” an MCA official told PTI after the news broke.
The Goa Cricket Association secretary, Shamba Desai, also welcomed Jaiswal’s move, saying, “He’s keen on playing for us, and we are happy to have him. He will be part of our team from the next season.” When asked if Jaiswal might take on the captaincy for the Goa team, Desai noted, “Yes, that’s a possibility. Since he plays for the Indian cricket team, he’s a strong candidate for captain, and we’re looking at making that happen. We still need to discuss his availability for our domestic matches.”
Interestingly, Jaiswal is not the first player from Mumbai to make this shift to Goa. Recently, two other players, Arjun Tendulkar and Siddhesh Lad, also made a similar move. Lad spent his cooling-off period in Goa but returned to Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy season last year with success.
Since his Test debut against West Indies in July 2023, Jaiswal has established himself as a key player for India. He’s been the first-choice opener and has played in 19 matches, showcasing remarkable performances on the international stage. His batting average exceeds 52 in Test cricket, boasting four centuries and ten half-centuries. It’s clear that Jaiswal’s move to Goa, while surprising, adds an exciting chapter to his cricketing journey.
