Cricket in India has always been regarded as a religion for millions of fans across the country. This sport has always found prodigious talents from all corners of the world. Yashasvi Jaiswal is one such talent hailing from India. A young cricketer who has captured the eyeballs of the cricketing world with his stunning skills and jaw-dropping inspiring journey.
Early Life And The Passion For Cricket
Yashasvi Jaiswal was born on December 28, 2001, in Bhadohi, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, India. Soon he discovered his love and passion for cricket at a very young age and a dream of playing for the Indian cricket team someday. At the age of 10-11 years, he used to play cricket with comparatively elder buddies. After watching his stroke play at that early age, they suggested that he should move to Mumbai for better opportunities. He reached Mumbai, but the journey to success was far from easy.
The Great Struggle
Moving to Mumbai was a bold and challenging decision for a young Yashasvi. The struggle for glory was about to start and it was not easy. He found shelter in a local milk dairy and, in return for living there, he worked for the dairy owner. During this time, he continued his cricketing practice on the streets of Mumbai and Azad Maidan. The love for the cricket did not go well for the owner and he did not allow Yashasvi to live there anymore.
The shelter had gone for Yashasvi Jaiswal as well as the source of income. Luckily he got a chance to participate in a match at Azad Maidan and got a temporary tent for living. He also started selling street foods for his survival. Living in the tent was not convenient at all. There is no light, no washroom in the tent. Living there becomes very hard sometimes, especially on rainy days when tents are filled with water for many days. He spends almost 3 years in the tent; you can imagine the willpower of that boy at the age of 14.
Ray Of Hope And The Mumbai Dream
Everything was looking against the young Yashasvi, but hard work, sheer determination, and a never die attitude kept him strong. His destiny was about to change. It was 2013 when a local coach Jwala Singh, who owned a cricket academy those days watched Yashasvi playing beautiful shots. He was impressed and decided to take care of this prodigious talent. Finally, Yashasvi got a proper coach and better facilities to improve his skills.
His performances in local tournaments and age-group cricket did not go unnoticed, and he was considered one of the brightest prospects in Mumbai cricket circles. In 2015, during the Giles Shield Tournament, he created history by scoring a remarkable 319 runs in a single innings and took 13/99 in the match, which made him an overnight sensation.
Rising Through The Ranks
Soon he was selected for the Mumbai under-16 squad. He continued his glorious run and finally got selected for India’s under-19 national team. In Under-19 Asia Cup which India won, Jaiswal was the highest run-scorer and player of the tournament.
In 2019, he impressed the selectors with a remarkable performance. He scored 294 runs in seven matches, In the under-19 tri-series in England, he smashed 294 runs in seven matches, including four half-centuries. In December 2019, he was selected for India’s squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Jaiswal was the leading run scorer in the world cup. He also scored a century in a high-pressure clash against Pakistan under-19s in the semi-final.
Domestic Stardom
After his successful U-19 World Cup campaign, Yashasvi Jaiswal made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. He maintained an average of over 80 with 10 centuries in first-class cricket. He continued to impress, scoring centuries and consistently contributing to his team’s success. His ability to perform under pressure and adapt to different formats of the game impressed the senior players and coaches.
The IPL Breakthrough
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been an amazing platform for young talents, and Yashasvi Jaiswal got his chance in the 2020 edition when he was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals at a price of 2.5cr. Although he had limited opportunities in his first season, in his 2nd season he overshadowed his opening partner and one of the best modern-day T20 batsman Josh Buttler smashed more than 600 runs with an outstanding strike rate.
The India Call-up and Future Prospects
Soon after IPL 2023, he got selected for the West Indies tour in June 2023. He smashed 171 runs on his debut and got the player of the match. The future looks incredibly promising for this young star. With his talent, dedication, and hunger for success, he has all the qualities to become a legend for India.
In conclusion, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s story is all about inspiration, perseverance and the undying spirit to achieve one’s dreams.