On 16 October, cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal broke the record of South Africa’s Alan Barrow created way back in 1975. The 17-year-old batsman became the youngest to score a double century in List-A cricket while playing for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
According to The Hindu Sporstar, his brilliant knock of 203 off 154 balls scored his team a 38-run victory against Jharkhand.
Proud feeling. Thank you everyone for your blessings! 🙂 #teamindia #mumbai #vijayhazaretrophy @BCCI @BCCIdomestic pic.twitter.com/zjhxqvMFuu
— Yashasvi Jaiswal (@yashasvi_j) October 17, 2019
He was only 11 years old when he decided he wanted to play for the country and moved to Mumbai from his native town Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh. Hindustan Times quoted him recalling his struggling days saying,
“Finding a place to stay was the hard part. I used to sleep in a dairy in Kalbadevi but they asked me to move out as I couldn’t help them much with the daily work. My parents requested my uncle to help me. I stayed at his place for a few days but it wasn’t big enough so he too had to ask me to find a different place.”
17-year-old left-handed batsman from India, Yashasvi Jaiswal, recently became the youngest batsman ever to score a List A double hundred 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/7mlLMZ7ezD
— Nqubeko Cue Sibiya (@CueSibiya) October 17, 2019
His uncle Santosh found him a place to sleep in the tent of the Muslim United Club where he stayed for 3 years. He reveals,
“I was staying in a tent alright but I had no money to buy food. So I started selling paani puri during Ram Leela. I also did scoring, became a ball boy even when I was not asked to. Basically, I did everything through which I could earn money.”
The turning point in his life was when a local coach named Jwala Singh decided to mentor him. He not only trained the young sports star but also invited him to stay in his home. He gave him gifts when he performed well like a helmet and now, he has been given permission to wear goggles while fielding.
From being homeless, selling street food to make a living, to sporting hero: Meet Yashasvi Jaiswal, the 17-year-old who became the youngest double centurion in List-A cricket. https://t.co/0V67EgFNzN
— Twitter Moments India (@MomentsIndia) October 17, 2019
The Indian Express quoted him commenting about the pressures of playing for the U-19 National team,
“You are talking about mental pressure in cricket? I have faced it daily in my life for years. Those have made me strong. Scoring runs is not important. I know I will score and take wickets. For me, whether I get the next meal or not, that’s important.”
Mumbai teenager Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed his way into the record books by becoming the youngest player to score a List-A double century. Playing in his debut #VijayHazare season, the 17-year-old scored 203 off 154 balls, which included 12 sixes and 17 fours against Jharkhand. pic.twitter.com/KnBLvmJFw8
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) October 17, 2019
Talking about his idol and his goals for the future, he added,
“I love to play the straight drive. It was the favourite shot of Sachin Tendulkar and I admire him the most. I don’t know what’s in store for me… Mujhe bas ye pata hai ki agar main apna present thik rakhunga to future apne aap sahi ho jayega.”
We wish the legend-in-the-making all the very best for his subsequent matches.