After putting in consistent performances for his domestic team, Mumbai, and Indian Premier League team, Rajasthan Royals, Yashasvi Jaiswal has made a remarkable start to his international career.
The southpaw is the leading run-getter in the ongoing five-match Test series between India and England, having amassed 545 runs in six innings at a staggering average of 109. His runs have come at a noteworthy strike rate of 81.10. Having moved to Mumbai from his birthplace in Uttar Pradesh at the age of 12, Jaiswal, who belongs to a humble background, had to fight not just on the pitch but off it as well.
The perseverance of the 22-year-old is now paying off as he has joined an exclusive list of cricketers who have converted their first three Test centuries into 150+ scores. Jaiswal’s most recent knock was an unbeaten 214 off 236 balls in the third innings of the third Test in Rajkot and it helped India register a 434-run win, their biggest in Test cricket in terms of runs.
“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,” Jaiswal told the host broadcaster on Sunday (January 18).
The opening batter scored his maiden double-century in the second Test in Visakhapatnam but couldn’t follow it up with a substantial score in the first innings of the third Test. India slipped to 33/3 inside the first hour on Day 1 before veterans Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja scored centuries to help the hosts post a solid first-innings total of 445. Jaiswal wasn’t just sitting and enjoying the partnership between the two seasoned campaigners but also drawing inspiration from it.
“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,” Jaiswal stated.
I need make sure in my mind that I will give my 100%: Yashasvi Jaiswal
Jaiswal took his time in the second innings, scoring just 29 runs off his first 64 balls. However, once he got himself set a the crease, he shifted gears and got to the three-figure mark off just 122 balls. The talented youngster said that the conditions were challenging when the ball was new and that is why he decided to give himself some time initially.
“At that moment, the ball was… I was feeling that there is something in the wicket. 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%,” Jaiswal explained.
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Soon after scoring his hundred on Day 3, Jaiswal retired hurt due to a back spasm. However, he returned on Day 4 and registered his second double-century in the series.
“Suddenly I got set and I felt that I could score runs. I have my plans where I could play all my shots and I tried to play only those shots and get those runs. After some time, my back was not really good. I didn’t want to [retire] out but it was too much. The next day I didn’t know how it’s going to start, lots of thoughts in my mind. But again when I came, I tried to give myself time and after that I felt really really good,” Jaiswal added.
The Suriya-born expressed his gratitude towards head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour for helping him learn about the mental aspect of the game.
“As a cricketer, I always go with the emotion. Sometimes I do well and sometimes I don’t. The way they come and the way they talk about cricket and all other things, I think it’s been incredible and I’m really enjoying it. The things that they have told me, how I can think about the game, how I can read the wicket, how I can take my game as deep as I can, and with that also they give me all the freedom. ‘If you think that you can play that shot well, make sure you are committing to it and you’re playing it’. They know that I play the sweep and the reverse sweep and they say you play, but make sure the ball is there to play,” Jaiswal said.
“I always keep thinking and talking to my seniors like Rohit bhai and Rahul bhai as well about how I can prepare for the game and how I can switch my mind. I think it is really important to work on my mind and I really try to work on my mind and then I try to express myself,” he concluded.