Yashasvi Jaiswal trying hard to keep wickets for Mumbai: Siddhesh Lad

File photo: Yashasvi Jaiswal has been practising his wicketkeeping in the Mumbai nets. | Photo Credit: PTI

Yashasvi Jaiswal keeping wickets during Mumbai’s practice game has raised speculation over whether the India international is considering taking up wicketkeeping as a second role.

Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad said Jaiswal is ‘trying hard’ to start keeping wickets. “That’s what I heard from him,” Lad told reporters on Thursday.

“And he wants to eventually, in future, keep wickets for maybe Mumbai or go on to keep wickets for the Indian team, is what he is aiming for. That is what I feel, but I haven’t got any clarity on that,” the Mumbai captain added.

Mumbai will start its campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, with Jaiswal available for selection. With seasoned campaigners like Shardul Thakur unavailable for the first game, Mumbai will be cautious.

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“I feel, as a Mumbai team, we never take any team lightly. We saw last season that Jammu and Kashmir won the Ranji Trophy. I don’t think a lot of people would have expected that,” Lad said.

“But nowadays, every association has got good infrastructure. They have good off-season camps. They have good scouts. So, I don’t think we, as a Mumbai team, can take any team lightly. We just want to take one game at a time. And we want to focus on what we can control as a team, and not focus on what team we are playing or what team we are not,” Lad said.

Mumbai will play four of its matches in the city, with the ‘away game’ against Railways also scheduled to be played at the Brabourne Stadium. However, Lad believes playing at home comes with its own set of pressure and expectations.

As a set of new rule changes has been introduced in the domestic tournament this season, Lad said he will discuss them with the team management and players ahead of the season opener and plan accordingly.