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When Yashasvi Jaiswal Made Rahul Dravid Go 'Wow' With His Love For Batting In England

Rajgeeta Yadav

Rahul Dravid recently shared a powerful story [Source: @rahulk_1019/X.com]Rahul Dravid recently shared a powerful story [Source: @rahulk_1019/X.com]

Former India coach Rahul Dravid recently shared a powerful story about young cricket star Yashasvi Jaiswal, revealing just how determined and hardworking the left-hander has been since the beginning of his journey.

Dravid first noticed Jaiswal's talent when they were both part of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Later, during the preparations for the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia, Jaiswal was with the team as a standby player and that’s where he truly impressed the coaches.

How Jaiswal's Grit and Growth Attracted Coaches' Attention

Dravid revealed that during practice sessions in England, conditions were tough. The pitches were wet and difficult because of the rain, making it hard to bat. But Jaiswal didn’t hesitate. He walked out to face the toughest bowlers, including Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, and was eager to bat.

"Some of the practice pitches leading into the Test match were really spicy. It had been raining, and they were not well prepared. And he was willing to go out there and bat against whoever. Side-armers, Mohammed Shami or Mohammed Siraj or whoever. He just wanted to bat in those conditions, which for me and our other coaches was, 'Wow, he wants to learn, he wants to improve. He wants to get better.' From the time that I saw him at Under-19 to then, just his range of shots had improved," Dravid told ESPNcricinfo.

Yashasvi Jaiswal International Journey So Far

The 23-year-old opener made his Test debut after India’s loss to Australia in the WTC final. He started strong, hitting a century against West Indies, and hasn’t looked back since. He went on to have a phenomenal home series against England, scoring over 700 runs, which included some outstanding performances.

Even on the tough tour to Australia, Jaiswal stood out. He was India’s highest run-scorer, making 391 runs at an average of 43.44, including a brilliant 161-run knock.

Now, with big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, the pressure is on India’s younger players. The first Test against England at Leeds is around the corner, and India’s top order will be tested.

KL Rahul is the only experienced batter among them, while Shubman Gill (now the Test captain) and Jaiswal are still new to English conditions. If Sai Sudharsan debuts at No. 3, the challenge becomes even bigger.

It is safe to say that Jaiswal has ticked all the boxes so far. He has played 19 Test matches, scored 1,798 runs, and averages 52.88, an impressive start to any cricketing career. Can he keep up the momentum going? We shall find out soon.