From Selling Pani Puris to Scoring IPL Century: The Incredible Rise of Yashasvi Jaiswal

Young cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal has had a breakout season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, with his maiden century putting him at the top of the Orange Cap standings. Jaiswal’s performance against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday was particularly noteworthy, with his knock of 124 off 62 balls earned him the Player of the Match award.

He scored more than half of the runs that his team, the Rajasthan Royals, made, with the next highest score being his opening partner Jos Buttler’s 18 off 19 balls. Jaiswal smashed 16 fours and eight sixes and was only dismissed off the fourth ball of the 20th over.

Jaiswal’s century took his total runs for the season to 428 in nine innings, with a strike rate of 159.70 and an average of 47.56. He now tops the Orange Cap standings, ahead of players like Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and David Warner. The young cricketer’s success may not come as a surprise to those who have followed his career closely. Jaiswal is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in Indian cricket across all formats.

Since making his first-class debut for Mumbai in January 2019, Jaiswal has scored an impressive 1845 runs in just 15 matches, with an average of 80.21 and a strike rate of 67.48. He has already notched up nine centuries and two half-centuries in first-class cricket. Jaiswal’s achievements also include being the youngest player to score a double century in 50-over cricket, as well as being the leading run-scorer in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, where he helped India reach the final with a total of 400 runs in six matches, including one century and four half-centuries.

However, Jaiswal’s journey to cricketing stardom has not been an easy one.

Prior to his success, he was living in a tent with groundsmen at the Azad Maidan in Dadar, Mumbai. After travelling from his hometown of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh to receive cricket coaching at the Maidan, he was evicted from a shop he was working for in the Kalbadevi neighbourhood and had to resort to selling pani puri to make ends meet.

 

Despite his meteoric rise in the sport, Jaiswal remains humble and grounded. He credits his success to the hard work and dedication he has put in to achieve his goals.

“I haven’t made any extraordinary changes in my life, and I am not going to either,” he said. “I want to move forward in the same way I’ve done so far. I know how much hard work and dedication it takes to achieve what you want.”

Jaiswal’s talent was first noticed by Santacruz-based coach Jwala Singh, who took the young cricketer under his wing and provided him with a place to stay. Jaiswal’s early performances quickly caught the attention of selectors, leading to his selection in the Mumbai Under-16 and Under-19 squads.

He also made a name for himself in the Indian Under-19 squad, where he was the top scorer and won the player of the tournament award at the 2018 Under-19 Asia Cup. Jaiswal’s impressive performances eventually led to his debut in senior first-class cricket for Mumbai during the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy season.

Jaiswal’s success in the IPL this year has further cemented his place as one of Indian cricket’s brightest young talents. His impressive performances have caught the attention of fans and commentators alike, who are eagerly anticipating what the future holds for the young cricketers.