NEW DELHI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal
's rapid ascent since the 2023 Indian Premier League deserves attention. From humble origins, he has now been selected for the squad traveling to the West Indies and United States for the upcoming
T20 World Cup
.
Rumors have circulated about the young Indian cricket sensation's past, suggesting he worked as a 'Paanipuri waala' selling 'Golgappas' to support himself.
However,
Jwala Singh
, who played a pivotal role in Jaiswal's success, said, "He did not have to face any such hardship when he was with me (Singh) because I always treated him like my son."
Singh expressed pride in taking an unknown child into his home and treating him like family. While acknowledging that Jaiswal's parents may have wanted to help but lacked the means, Singh stated, "God made me capable of taking this kid to new heights."
Although stories persist about Jaiswal's past, Singh emphasized that after 2013, he provided the young cricketer with a comfortable life, including proper equipment, nutrition, and living conditions.
Singh's involvement in Jaiswal's development was significant. He met the prodigy at age 13 and took him into his home for the next decade until 2022. Driven by his own passion for cricket, Singh nurtured Jaiswal's talent without any obligation other than his love for the sport.
"Not everybody knows that I got him admitted to a school but he didn't go, he used to say 'mera sir dard hota hai waha (I have headache)'. I got him into English classes... If you ever play in future and someone comes for an interview, you will need to know English. I am happy and very proud of him," revealed Singh.
"I brought Yashasvi as a seed to my house and I never thought what he would do in the future. I took that risk and I am very happy that he is playing for India and there could be no bigger achievement for me that I selected the kid who was not being taken care of," He added.
Jaiswal's IPL debut in 2020 marked the beginning of his professional journey. Over the next three seasons, he accumulated 547 runs in 23 games, including three half-centuries. However, it was his exceptional performance in the 2023 campaign, scoring 625 runs with a strike rate of 163.61, that caught everyone's attention. His five half-centuries and one century during this season led to his selection for the Indian team's series against the West Indies, where he scored an impressive 171 runs on debut.
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With India preparing for the upcoming World Cup, Jaiswal's inclusion in the squad brings hope for ending the country's 12-year drought at ICC tournaments. Singh believes that if the in-form players, such as
Suryakumar Yadav
,
Rohit Sharma
, Virat Kohli, and the bowling lineup, can come together and replicate their individual performances as a cohesive unit, India has a strong chance of winning the World Cup.
"Our team is currently playing against each other in the IPL and it will be of utmost importance that our players put in a combined effort. All the players who are currently performing for their respective franchises, if they come together and replicate their performance then it won’t be that difficult for India to win the World Cup," concluded Jwala.
(Inputs from IANS)
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