On Sunday, India defeated Sri Lanka in U-19 Asia Cup in Dhaka and this youngster from Bhadohi was the top performer for the cricket team. Being the opener in the game, he has provided India with a perfect start. He scored 113-ball 85 and took India to a big total of 304/3. He ended the tournament with 318 runs at an average of 79.50. He won the “Man of the Series” title in the tournament.
But three years ago, the situation was very different for Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was more than a decade when Jaiswal decided to come to Mumbai to learn cricket, mentioned HT report. There was a time when he didn’t even have his own bat and the other cricket essentials. But as he kept on performing, he has been gifted cricket bats each by the likes of Wasim Jaffer, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Sachin Tendulkar.
In 2012, this boy had nowhere to live in this city and couldn’t work somewhere full-time because cricket practice sessions used to take up most of the time. He was also thrown away from a dairy shop where he used to sleep but few groundsmen at the Muslim United Club’s tent at Azad Maidan ground gave him shelter.
Even though after much struggle he did find a place to sleep but the money crisis was making it difficult for him to survive. Therefore, he used to help out a food vendor and in exchange, he used to get lunch and dinner.
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Jaiswal told, “I just wanted to play cricket and I want to play for Mumbai. I used to stay in a tent and there were no electricity, washrooms or water facilities. To make ends meet, I started working with a food vendor. On occasions, my teammates would turn up and I’d serve them. I felt terrible. But I took that in my stride as it was necessary.”
Things changed for Jaiswal when he was spotted by his coach – Jwala Singh during his practice sessions. Singh decided to take him under his wing when he found that the boy was about to leave sports because of financial restraints.
Singh said the boy was 11-12 years old when he first saw him bat. “I was immediately impressed by his performance and he was playing against Division A bowlers with ease. Then my friend told me that he was struggling to find a home and he didn’t have a coach here.”
After scoring an unbeaten 319 and registering bowling figures of 13/99, which is a record for most runs and wickets in a school cricket match, Jaiswal found himself in the Limca Book of Records.
The young player has made 51 centuries and has taken 200 wickets in three years. “He’s got a habit of making big scores. If he carries on playing like this in big tournaments, I’m very sure he will play for India,” adds Singh.
Keep it going, young man.