On most nights before a game, Yashasvi Jaiswal listens to Celine Dion’s chartbuster soundtrack from the movie Titanic, “Every Night in My Dreams.” Whether he stuck to his tradition the night before the Visakhapatnam Test or not, he certainly composed a knock straight out of his dreams.
It was near flawless and pivotal to his team’s cause, helping them from crashing onto an iceberg and drowning into the seas, steering them to relatively safe shores with an undefeated 179, more than half of India’s first-day total. It is his most influential knock yet.
The pitch was flat, but the slowness made stroke-making difficult. England’s spinners were callow; one was a debutant, the other two had a combined experience of three games, but they bowled diligently to keep India’s progress under check. The total of 336 for six is not formidable on this pitch, but the reason India reached this far only due to the 22-year-old’s application and hunger for runs.
Every partner of his got a start but departed without even a forty. The second-highest score was Shubman Gill’s 34. But Jaiswal waged a lonely battle, repelling the waves and playing his strokes, ensuring that India remained in the game and in the series, having lost the first Test in Hyderabad.
There is an arc of redemption too. In the first Test at Hyderabad, his first at home, Jaiswal squandered a hundred-scoring chance. Until he remained in the crease, Jais-ball seemed to have an edge over Bazball. With his aggressive white-ball influenced approach, the left-hander had all the answers to what England threw at him. But he spilled his wicket on 80 runs, rather than kicking on to score a hundred and taking the game away from England.
He did not let the opportunity go in Visakhapatnam. Jaiswal was as aggressive, but he ensured that he batted long. His strike-rate wasn’t as lofty as it was in the first Test. But the aggression and the intent were all intact. Having got out for 80, one thought he would slow down with the three-figure mark in sight. But he went from 73 to 100 in just 20 deliveries, playing just 8 dot balls in the period and completing his hundred with a six. Like Virender Sehwag, to cap an innings that was Sehwagian in nature.
This streak of intent was visible from the time Jaiswal walked into the national side during the tour of the Caribbean. So much so that in the lead up to the World Cup, he was in contention to make the cut. It looks a matter of time as the 22-year-old has all the making of a modern-day all-format opener, one who can fit into any format without altering his game.
It’s the reward of his hard work and determination to dream on against the odds. Packing his bags from the remote town of Suriyawan in Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai to chase his cricketing dreams as a raw teenager, staying in tents on pitches, selling paani puris, and climbing walls of cricket clubs to watch matches, Jaiswal knows the value of sweat. And he continues striving for more success.
He is on a perennial quest to get better. He has bought a sprawling new apartment, has expensive cars in his garage, and is a celebrity. But he remains committed to his first love, which is cricket. During the off-season, he packed off to the Rajasthan Royals academy in Talegaon, surrounded by wilderness.
With the academy coach Zubin Bharucha, Jaiswal spends his time alternating between practicing with red balls and white balls on tracks with different soil textures. In the middle, depending on the format, Jaiswal is given the license to choose the shots he plays, without altering his game. There is still some work to be done on the leg-side game. But for now, it is not troubling him. With his elbow being ramrod straight, he isn’t as effective off his legs as other sub-continental batsmen, particularly southpaws.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s heroic inning in the 2nd Test against England has put India on the driver’s seat. His unbeaten 179 runs have not only helped India recover from a precarious situation but also showcased his talent, determination, and hunger for runs. With his aggressive yet composed approach, Jaiswal has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Indian cricket team. His journey from a small town to becoming a celebrity is a testament to his hard work and dedication. As he continues to strive for excellence, Jaiswal’s future in cricket looks promising, and he has the potential to excel in all formats of the game.