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From Selling Golgappas To Donning Indian Colours: The Incredible Story Of Yashasvi Jaiswal

image-lku1gr8eYashasvi Jaiswal after scoring his maiden Test century (AP Photos)

Yashasvi Jaiswal's story is an inspiring tale of determination and passion to succeed. Born on December 28, 2001, in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, Yashasvi's journey to become a cricketer was far from easy.

At a young age, he left his hometown and travelled to Mumbai with the dream of pursuing a career in cricket. However, he faced financial struggles and had to resort to selling street food to make ends meet. Not only did he work at a pani puri stall, Yashasvi also worked at a dairy shop to earn bread and butter. Once homeless, the young boy stayed at the tents at the Azad Maidan.

"My father brought me to Mumbai and left me with my uncle. For a few days I stayed there. But you know, after some time, you are a guest, you have to leave. Then I started working in a dairy and staying there. Then I got the opportunity to stay in a tent (at Azad Maidan), so I took it. I was told if I did well in some games, I could stay at the Muslim United club tents. I was very happy. It was ideal for me. I feel like all cricketers would have loved it. I lived there for three years," Jaiswal said in an interview to Hindustan Times.

Despite the hardships, he never let go of his passion for the sport and continued to practice and play cricket whenever he got the chance. In 2013, Yashasvi’s talent was recognized by cricket coach Jwala Singh, who provided him with a place to stay. Under the guidance of Singh, Jaiswal went on to play competitive cricket. He scored 319 not out and took 13/99 in a Giles Shield match in 2015.

Yashasvi's talent was soon noticed, and he was selected to play for various local teams and cricket clubs in Mumbai. His breakthrough came when he became the youngest cricketer to smash a double century in the history of List A cricket, at the age of 17 years and 292 days.

In 2020, Yashasvi represented the Indian U-19 cricket team in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. He showcased his potential in the tournament, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 400 runs in six matches. His performances helped India lift the trophy, and he was awarded the "Player of the Tournament" title.

The impressive performances in the U-19 World Cup earned him an Indian Premier League contract. In the 2020 IPL auction, Yashasvi was picked by the Rajasthan Royals. In a short span of time, he has established himself as a solid batsman in the tournament, with an average of 32.56 in 37 matches. He was the highest run-scorer for the Royals in IPL 2023, and was soon later rewarded with an India cap. He slammed a fine century on his Test debut last month, and is also a part of the squad for the T20I series against West Indies.