Yashasvi Jaiswal’s IPL dream debut on hold, sketches during self-isolation to relax

There’s some wariness in his voice when 18-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal speaks on the phone. But his manners are immaculate.

He asks this correspondent how she is during the lockdown.

These are times of uncertainty for the left-handed Jaiswal, India’s top-scorer in the recent under-19 World Cup in South Africa. In December, he was signed by Rajasthan for Rs 2.4 crore (base price Rs 20 lakh) in the IPL auction. Eager for the big event after his performances in the World Cup and for Mumbai before that, Jaiswal, for now, has had to put his aspirations on hold. His moment has arrived but remains just beyond his reach due to the coronavirus pandemic.


Jaiswal’s challenge is exacerbated by the fact that his family lives in Bhadohi, UP. He spent many nights trying to get a modicum of sleep in the ramshackle digs around Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, before his childhood coach, Jwala Singh, took him under his wing. He now lives at Singh’s home in Santacruz.

“What’s happening makes me sad,” Jaiswal says, not just about himself, but the world overall. “I pray to God daily that things get better.”

Jaiswal says that he speaks with his parents in Bhadohi every day. But he is worried how they are managing. There is also an undercurrent of anxiety in his words over the IPL, currently held off till April 15.

Time management
“My daily schedule has suffered somewhat,” Jaiswal says. “I do the workouts we have been assigned. I am in touch with my coaches, Zubin Bharucha [head of cricket, Rajasthan], Amol Muzumdar [batting coach] and Dishant Yagnik [fielding coach]. They gave me home workouts during our three-day boot camp in Nagpur a few weeks ago. I also have Jwala sir, who helps me with my mental health. I need to be ready for the mental challenges that come my way in the form of big matches, whenever they start.”

Once his to-do list is ticked off, time drags for the teenager.

“The day goes by just sitting in the house,” he says. “I am used to playing on the field. That gives me a good night’s sleep. [These days] I spend time grooming, working on my sketches, I think about what I should do, I sit and meditate.”

A decision on the IPL hasn’t been taken by the BCCI or the teams, but they are hoping for a window so that the tournament goes ahead.

As for the players’ payments, a source from a franchise says, “As of now, it is not like the IPL will not happen. There is a window and team owners as well as the BCCI are hoping it happens then. If it gets cancelled, it will be for the first time ever and then there will be considerations of what to do. It is not decided if players will be paid or not. It depends on what happens with regards to the tournament.”

Jaiswal has also had a chance to speak to his idols Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Jaffer.

“I spoke to both of them to understand how I can get myself ready for the IPL — how I should think. I got some tips from them,” he says.

Not about the money
There’s one thing that the young man is clear about and that is his love for cricket. “Money for me has never been important,” he says. “I have always wanted to play cricket and improve my game. I use some money for my expenses, but the rest is handled by Jwala sir. I am comfortable if he takes care of money because he knows what’s best for me.

“I just pay attention to how I can improve my cricket and myself as a person. I have never thought of what should be done with my prize money. But I do try to always be the man of the match, man of the tournament, to score the most runs and play the best cricket on the field.”

Sketches win matches
Jaiswal finds solace in drawing. It helps him blow some steam off.

“I like to sketch my family member’s faces. My favourite is one in which I have my thoughts captured. Since my family lives in the village, we don’t get to stay together often. I recently went home and came back but I miss them. I want us to live together in one house, eat well and live happily. I have made small faces of everyone in my sketch. It’s like a reflection of my mind — we are together.

‘Family is where life begins, and life doesn’t end’ is what I have written on the drawing. I have not thought about buying a house, I just want us to live together. Since my childhood I have not been able to live with my parents.”

‘Yashasvi’ means success and the youngster is confident that he is on the path to achieve it. “Whatever challenges I face, I need to fight,” says Jaiswal. “I try to be positive always as I don’t have anything to lose.”