Yashasvi Jaiswal’s journey from the bustling streets of Mumbai has become legendary. At the age of 13, he left his hometown in Uttar Pradesh to pursue cricket in the heart of the sport in India. In Mumbai, he faced daily battles against himself and other talented youngsters, striving to climb the ranks. His relentless desire for runs can be traced back to these early challenges.
Despite only playing seven Tests, Jaiswal has already achieved a remarkable feat by converting his first three centuries into scores of 150 or more. His unbeaten 214* against England in Rajkot not only showcased his talent but also set up India’s largest Test victory by runs.
Yashasvi said to the host broadcaster: “In India, when you grow up, you work really hard for each and everything. Even when getting the bus you have to work really hard to get the bus. You have to work really hard to get to the train and auto and everything and I have done that since my childhood and I know how important every innings is and that’s why I really work hard in my [practice] sessions and every innings counts for me and for my team that is my biggest motivation to play for my country and I just make sure that whenever I’m there I need to give my 100% and then enjoy.”
During the Rajkot Test, Jaiswal faced setbacks, falling cheaply in the first innings despite high expectations. However, he learned from experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, who rescued India with a double-century partnership.
In the second innings, Jaiswal adopted a patient approach, emulating the resilience of his seniors. Despite facing back spasms, he transformed his innings, accelerating to a century in just 122 balls after a cautious start, proving his adaptability and determination on the field.
He further said: “The way Rohit bhai and Jaddu bhai played in the first innings, that motivated me a lot. Because the passion was there, the talk was there, they were really determined to play session by session and when I was inside [the dressing room] I kept thinking that when I go there I have to make it count. The way they were talking about the game, the way they motivated us, I think its incredible to see them putting a lot of effort.”
“At that moment, the ball was… I was feeling that there is something in the wicket,” he said of his sedate start to the second innings. “The ball was really hard and there was something in it and I was feeling that for me its especially important to give a good start to the team and as you’ve seen in the last three matches the second innings makes a huge impact on the game and I was trying to make sure that I could play as many balls as I can. It’s kind of hard, Test cricket, I guess. So I just make sure that if I’m there, I need make sure in my mind that I will give my 100%.”
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