From Paani-Puri Vendor to IPL Sensation: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Remarkable Journey culminates in Maiden Century

Yashasvi Jaiswal is the talk of the town after smashing his maiden IPL century in the 1000th game in the league’s history between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. The RR hitter became the league’s fourth youngest player to reach the three-figure mark. However, behind all of his current accolades are years of struggle through adversity and poverty.

Yashasvi Jaiswal moved to Mumbai from Uttar Pradesh when he was 10 years old, with the ambition of playing cricket at the highest level in mind. His parents were not financially secure, so he came to dwell with his uncle in the City of Dreams. He started working at a dairy at the age of 11 since his parents couldn’t afford to support his cricketing career. To make ends meet, he even sold paani puri and bananas near Azaad Maidan in Mumbai. He came here every day after work to watch cricketers play.

He also used to reside in roadside tents and dine with the groundsmen who lived there. When he met his coach, Jwala Singh, his career began to take off. In an interview, Jaiswal stated that his coach encouraged him and offered him a place to stay.

Jaiswal rose to prominence after scoring 319* and taking 13 wickets in a Harris shield school level tournament, the same tournament that produced the great Sachin Tendulkar. Since then, he has risen through the ranks and was ultimately given the opportunity to play for India in the U-19 Cricket World Cup, where he excelled. At the age of 17, he became the youngest batter in List A cricket history to score a double century.

He was signed for Rs 2.4 crore by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2019 auction, and after a few seasons of hardship, he has come into his own in IPL 2023. He has 428 runs in this edition and proudly wears the Orange Cap.

Yashasvi Jaiswal blasted the Mumbai Indians bowlers from the start, smacking boundaries and sixes all over the field. He reached the century mark in just 53 deliveries. He eventually got out after scoring 124 off 62 balls in an innings that included 16 fours and 8 sixes.

Also Read: IPL 2023: Jaiswal’s 124 in vain as Suryakumar, David carry Mumbai to six-wicket win (cricfiles.com)