England can learn from Yashasvi Jaiswal’s discipline, says Nasser Hussain, after India star scores second double hundred in as many games; opening batter, who used to live in a groundsman’s tent during tough upbringing, has become the new Virender Sehwag
Yashashvi Jaiswal’s journey from living in a tent and selling snacks to becoming a cricket hero has taken him through Mumbai’s maidans.
In order to make ends meet, the young person used to sell pani puris, a deep-fried treat loaded with potatoes, onions, or chickpeas. However, last week, he or she was seen thrashing England’s bowlers around the field.
With his unbroken 214 against England in Rajkot, Jaiswal, 22, made history by becoming the third-youngest man to hit two Test double hundreds. He had previously scored 209 against England in Vizag. The only people to accomplish it earlier were Vinod Kambli and Sir Don Bradman, both of whom were 21.
His twelve sixes in an innings matched Wasim Akram’s dozen maximums for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in 1996, making it the most by any Indian player in Test cricket history and the joint best by anyone.
Following deliveries from James Anderson, Jaiswal struck three sixes in quick succession: a full toss that whipped over fine leg, a full ball that blasted over extra-cover, and a wide ball that pumped back over the bowler’s head.
While statistics are one thing, consider this another: With his maiden century coming from a knock of 171 against the West Indies in Dominica in July, Jaiswal became the first batter from India and the seventh overall to turn his first three Test hundreds into scores of over 150.
Jaiswal stays in groundsman’s tent
However, his story also revolves heavily around his persona. Jaiswal had traveled to Bombay as a child to pursue his ambition of being a cricket player, but his uncle’s house was too small, so soon he had nowhere to reside.
He was allegedly forbidden from sleeping at the dairy shop where he used to work, and his next residence was a canvas tent. He sought safety in a groundsman’s tent on Azad Maidan, where he worked odd jobs to supplement his income and pedalled those pani puris with his uncle.
Coach Jwala Singh then took Jaiswal under his wing, gave him a place to live, and gave him cricket tips. When Jaiswal spoke of Singh in 2019, she added, “He is the reason I have reached here.” Now, the batter has raised himself even further. As high in the game as one of his sixes was his standing.
To portray Jaiswal as merely a boundary hitter would be incorrect, though, as he possesses a good all-around game that includes a strong defensive component. After he ground his way to 29 from 64 balls, he unleashed a six-fest in his double century in Rajkot.
It was only then that things really picked up, with Anderson hitting a hooked six and then two straight fours. After reaching fifty from 80 balls thanks to consecutive maximums off Hartley over long-on, he needed just 42 balls to complete his century thanks to a cover-driven four off Mark Wood.
When Jaiswal was forced to retire injured on 104 due to a back spasm, it looked as though his innings was gone. However, the following day, he made a further 110 runs, which featured those three consecutive sixes off Anderson and back-to-back maximums down the ground off Joe Root’s off-spin. Throughout his knock, we also witnessed skillful dabs, rasping drives, and strong sweeps and reverse sweeps.
Michael Vaughan, a former England captain and current BBC pundit, has compared Jaiswal to Virender Sehwag, who destroyed bowlers from the opening spot for India in all formats between 2001 and 2013. Nasser Hussain concurs.
“A spinner belts the ball out of the dirt every time he tosses it up. Sehwag, you must return to Kambli. This young man has to be considered among the best spin hitters.
“Being in a tent has given him that hunger.” He possesses both discipline and the skill and potential to hit in the IPL, which makes him a dangerous mix.”
Hussain: England can learn from Jaiswal
Ben Duckett gave an astounding speech following the third day of play in Rajkot. He stated that India’s employment of a nightwatchman while ahead by more than 300 proved they were “wary” of Ben Stokes’ Bazballers and that “the more the better” when asked how many runs England might reasonably pursue in the last innings.
Duckett also made a striking statement, claiming that England should be credited for Jaiswal’s style of play because of their aggressive attitude under Stokes and Test coach McCullum.
However, Hussain finds little merit in such argument.
He believes that England should be inspired by Jaiswal and the way he constructed a massive innings, given that Duckett’s team collapsed in the third Test, losing by 434 runs after going from 224-2 in their opening innings.
England has not taught Jaiswal anything. “He has gained knowledge from his experiences, upbringing, and the IPL,” Hussain remarked of a player who has amassed twelve of his sixteen fifty-plus first-class wickets.
“Learn from him, boys, if nothing else. He sits in as well as attacks. He didn’t pursue England for the first hour, but he did in the second. He is someone that some of England’s batters could learn from.
“When you grow up in India, you have to work really hard for everything,” stated Jaiswal. It takes a lot of effort to catch the bus. It takes a lot of effort to get to the train. Since I was a young child, I have done that.
Because I am aware of the significance of each innings, I put a lot of effort into my practice sessions. Each and every inning matters to my team and me. Playing for my nation is what drives me the most.
“I just make sure that whenever I’m there I need to give my 100 per cent and enjoy it.”
Let’s get on with the trip.