Yashasvi Jaiswal’s recent decision to leave Mumbai and move to Goa has raised more than a few eyebrows, but there’s more to this shift than meets the eye. According to reports, the trigger for this surprising move could be traced back to a simmering feud with none other than Ajinkya Rahane. It seems that the cracks had been building up for years, and what we’re seeing now is the result of that tension.
Let’s rewind the clock to 2022, when Jaiswal was in the form of his life. After smashing a double century in the Duleep Trophy final, the young prodigy’s aggressive play led to a bit of on-field drama. During that game, Jaiswal got into a heated sledging exchange with Ravi Teja of South Zone. Rahane, who was the captain of West Zone, didn’t appreciate Jaiswal’s fiery approach and decided to send him off the field for his behavior. This moment is said to have planted the seed of frustration in Jaiswal, though things seemed to settle down for a while.
Fast forward to 2025, and whispers around the dressing room indicate that the frustration was far from over. During the match between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir, reports suggest that Jaiswal had another clash with Rahane over his shot selection. As the tension escalated, Jaiswal allegedly kicked Rahane’s kit bag in a moment of anger. The catalyst for Jaiswal’s decision to leave Mumbai for Goa seemed to have come from this dressing-room spat, as the young batter decided he needed a fresh start.
What made this move even more intriguing was the allure of captaincy. Goa, keen to add Jaiswal to their ranks, offered him the opportunity to lead the team, a chance that Mumbai had not provided him. The captaincy role was too tempting to resist, and Jaiswal, at just 23, saw it as a way to reinvent himself in a new environment.
Jaiswal’s move to Goa not only marks the end of a chapter with Mumbai but also signals the beginning of a new journey for the talented opener. His performances have already made him a fixture in the Indian team, but now he’s about to prove his leadership skills in domestic cricket. With the promise of a fresh start, Jaiswal’s career could see even greater heights, with the pressure of the Mumbai dressing room dynamics no longer holding him back.