Yashasvi Jaiswal couldn’t appear for his Class X exams two days ago, as he was busy dismantling a hapless Kerala attack in the Vijay Hazare Trophy en route to his second List-A century. On Wednesday, the 17-year-old went one step further, smashing a spectacular double century (203, 154b, 17x4, 12x6) in the 38-run victory over Jharkhand to become the youngest-ever to score a double hundred in List-A cricket.
Did he have any regret about missing the exams, Jaiswal was asked. “No. For me cricket is everything,” he replied. In fact, not until the match finished did he even realise that he had broken a record that had stood for close to 45 years (South African Alan Barrow, aged 20, had scored an unbeaten 202 for provincial side Natal in 1975).
It was perhaps reflective of the way he batted; pure, clutter-free hitting and unmindful of pressures that accompany a must-win game. “I didn't think much. Just played on the merit of the ball and it happened. Even I didn't realise that it had happened. But it is just the start. God willing I will continue to play well and work harder.”
Read: TN beats Gujarat, finishes unbeaten in league stage
However, six years ago, Jaiswal would have had little inkling of the things to come. After moving to Mumbai from Uttar Pradesh, he didn’t have a place to stay and had to resort to selling savouries on the street to make ends meet.
“It made me mentally strong,” the southpaw said. “Now if I am in a tough situation, I am confident of doing well. I don’t pay the results much attention. Whatever is in my control I will do. The struggle is there even now and it will be there always. I just play with a lot of heart and I will continue to do so.”
Jwala Singh, a local coach who took Jaiswal under his wing, was a “god-like figure” he revealed. As far as cricketing idols went, Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Jaffer rank the highest. The latter, whose autograph is prominently visible on his bat, has been instrumental in him learning to construct long innings, the kind of which he played against Jharkhand. It was also paced to perfection, with the first 100 runs taking 101 balls the second coming off just 49.
Also read: Youngest-ever to score a double hundred in List-A cricket
“I was with Wasim sir in the Vizzy Trophy where I was the Man-of-the-Series and he gave me a lot of tips because of which I am able to play the long innings. I speak to him before matches and he guides me a lot. Him and Jwala sir have helped me in my mental make up. Same with [Vinayak] Samant sir (Mumbai coach).”
“They say Mumbai batsmen are ‘khadoos’ and won’t give away their wickets easily. Even I think like that. I won’t give up my wicket easily. The bowlers should get me out.”
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