Yashasvi Jaiswal - Rags to to playing for India U-19 World Cup

The grit to follow the dream of playing cricket for India to India U-19. Our minor problems will vanish in front of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s struggles.

Yashasvi Jaiswal – Rags to World Cup

No opportunities, no support, what left was an intense desire to play cricket for Mumbai and pursue that dream at any cost. Life was a roller coaster dream, and perseverance kicks in the strength to move forward. From sleeping in a tent to selling pani-puris to doing all kinds of odd jobs to playing in U-19 IPL with a top score can give chills to any social media-cum-PBG addict teenager.

Bhadohi to Mumbai

Yashasvi hails from Bhadohi. His father is Bhupendra, a small-time shopkeeper, and his mother Kanchan is a housewife. Jaiswal moved to Mumbai to pursue cricket at the age of 10 years. His father was already hand-to-mouth and managing four children. Yashasvi convinced his father to move to Mumbai. Although, Allahabad was a closer choice. Allahabad also had a history of producing star cricket players Mohd. Kaif and Hyder Ali, Ranji Trophy veteran. The junior selection came to be a challenge, so Yashasvi convinced his father to move to greener pastures in Mumbai.

Mumbai – an infinite struggle

Yashasvi Jaiswal started practicing at Azad Maidan (Mumbai), but survival for his father is getting tedious. His father was not in a position to stay there and support him. Yashasvi moved to the Kalbadevi neighborhood. He took shelter in dairy in return doing some minor work. The balance of cricket practice with work was impossible for a small boy of 10- 11 years. A shopkeeper kicked him out as he couldn’t do his mere job. Yashasvi moved to his uncle’s house in Worli. But struggles never ended. His uncle Santosh also could not accommodate him. He managed to make him stay in a tent in the Muslim United Club. He slept with the groundskeepers.

With the pinch of loneliness, homesickness, and no resources, Yashasvi started to push more. He endured every struggle at every step to be closer to his dream. He was paying the full price for his dream to materialize. His dream never let him give up, and going back was never an option. He lived with groundskeepers in the Muslim United Club’s tent at the Azad Maidan ground in Mumbai for three years. He never shared his struggles at home. Who would allow his son to face so much pain for an unattainable dream in a big imperfect world? He stayed back with no money to become an inspiration today.

Selling Pani-Puri

The monetary help coming from Bhadhoi was never enough, so he started to sell pani-puri at the same Azad Maidan during Ram-Leela after scoring his centuries in the day. The peer pressure kicked in, but Yashasvi tried not to budge. His peers would come to have pani-puri at his stalls, and his cheeks would turn red with shame while serving them. If life is giving curveballs, he can’t run but face it with some grit, which drives him to Mumbai. Many nights went empty-stomach as he has also done cooking. He also survived by scoring and playing games with older boys to earn Rs 200-300 to survive a week.

Yashasvi Jaiswal - Rags to to playing for India U-19 World Cup — Yashasvi Jaiswal with Man of the Series award in U19 World Cup

It was a constant fight for survival and enduring every day for the next meal. There were lunch and dinner, and Yashasvi had to make Rotis. His cries couldn’t reach Bhadohi. The lack of amenities is also a daily struggle. How much does a boy endure this type of burdensome situation? He almost matched the description of a daily wager, but his unmatched love for cricket made him survive the challenging phase. In the era of 2020, a part of the population lives without electricity and no access to the privy at night. Living in a tent daily with no access to the toilet is not as adventurous as a camping tent. He chuckles and calls his meals without amenities a candle-light dinner. This inner strength was soon taken care of by one of the coaches at Azad Maidan, as every dream has to find its path to be fulfilled.

Hope shines

Local coach-cum-scout Jwala Singh soon took left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal under his wing. Singh, too belonged to Uttar Pradesh, and he could see himself in Yashasvi. His talent was, of course, appealing. Jwala explains how dedicated he was. He will start practice before dawn and till night. Jwala recalls that 12-year-old Jaiswal could face Jwala ‘A’ division bowler easily. Jwala could see himself in Jaiswal. When Jwala arrived in Mumbai from UP, he didn’t have a house to stay in or any godfather. Jwala boasts about Jaiswal as a gifted batsman with 49 centuries in the last five years in his kitty. Jwala had played the junior age group for Mumbai and had a stint at the MRF pace foundation and Zaheer Khan.

He gave Yashasvi a place to stay to concentrate fully on cricket. Jwala became his legal guardian. Jaiswal is now a part of his family. Jwala’s wife Vandana takes care of the nutrition of Jaiswal. Mumbai is the hub for young cricketers. How could it acknowledge the struggle and talent of Yashasvi, who is just starting? But Mumbai welcomed him with open arms as Yashasvi started scoring consistently in the top spot.

Future Ahead

Mumbai U-19 coach Satish Samant says Jaiswal will be the next big Mumbai cricket player. Satish is also in all praise for Jaiswal and explains how Yashasvi can read every bowler’s mind. He molds and adapts to different situations. Most U-19 players try to play as many shots as possible. But Jaiswal plays with a calm and concentrated mind. Samant boasts Jaiswal as an uprising star who doesn’t have a smartphone and stays away from social media demons. Jaiswal’s talent and focus will take him to many places as he is already becoming a whole new abuzz in Mumbai.

High-grade cricket pressure is the same as his daily struggle not to give up his dream. For him, mental pressure is never off the radar. It stays in daily life for years, instilling the strength every day to play better, get the next meal, and be better than the last day. Jaiswal is confident that he’ll keep scoring and getting wickets with ease but whether he could get something on his plate is still uncertain.

Jaiswal recalls his days with shame when he had no money and borrowed food from his teammates. He had money, but hunger persisted.

Former captain Dilip Vengsarkar took left-handed Jaiswal under his wing and backed him financially. Jaiswal toured England with Vengsarkar’s Academy. He is also in all praise for the upcoming star. Dilip appreciates Yashasvi’s determination at such a young age of 13 years and excels in all conditions.

Achievements:

Jaiswal first came to the limelight in 2015 when he scored 319 not out and took 13/99 in a Giles Shield match, an overall record in school cricket, which Limca Book of Records recognized.
Jaiswal made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy on 7 January 2019
In October 2019, he became the youngest cricketer to score a List A double century in the Vijay Hazare trophy.
In December 2019, the Indian squad named him for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[13] He became the leading scorer in the tournament and scored a century against Pakistan.
Rajasthan Royals have signed him for ₹2.4 crores (US$340,000) to play in IPL 2020
He has been adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the Under-19 World Cup 2020. Bangladesh carried the trophy, but Jaiswal took the individual honors by scoring 400 runs overall and 88 in the final.

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