GUWAHATI: From a prodigy in domestic cricket to making it big on the U-19 international scene, 17-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal has come a long way as he slammed a majestic century against Pakistan to fire India into the final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
Yashasvi’s story is of an 11-year-old youngster from a financially-challenged background in Bhadohi from Uttar Pradesh who came to Mumbai to live his only passion in life-Cricket.
For a few years, Yashasvi played cricket in the day, sold Pani Puri in the evening and slept under a tent in the Muslim United Club after he was thrown out of a dairy shop where he used to sleep as he couldn’t help them much with the daily work. For the next three years, those tents were Yashasvi’s home.
During Dussehra in Azad Maidan Yashasvi, used to sell Pani Puri where people would come to see Ram Leela. On a daily basis, Yashasvi even used to sell fruits and would score and play games with older boys to earn Rs. 200-300 to survive and support his dream. But that was not enough for him. There were still days when he would go to sleep on an empty stomach.
Between these life conditions Jaiswal started taking part in cricket sessions at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. It was the entry of local cricket coach Jwala Singh that changed Yashasvi’s life. Seeing his potential Jwala took responsibility and provided him with a place to stay and started nurturing the immense cricketing potential within the little boy. Yashasvi finally got picked for Mumbai U-19 squad and from there this budding cricketer never looked back.
Six years later, the 17-year-old youngster made it to the U-19 Indian Team and was also bought by Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals for a whooping amount of ₹ 2.4 crores. (Inputs from The Indian Express)
