Yashasvi Jaiswal Introduces the Man Who Transformed his Career
The Quint caught up with the Player of the Tournament of U-19 World Cup Yashasvi Jaiswal & his coach Jwala Singh.
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Video Journalists: Abhishek Ranjan and Athar Rather
Video Editor: Deepthi Ramdas
When The Quint met Yashasvi Jaiswal, Player of the Tournament for the ICC U-19 World Cup 2020, it was evident from the first minute that the young cricketer’s universe was all about his coach and mentor Jwala Singh.
And as expected, when Yashasvi finished the tournament as the top scorer, his coach couldn’t be proud enough for his favourite student.
The Indian unit may have missed the mark in the final, but Yashasvi was right on the money, scoring 400 runs from 6 matches at mind-boggling average of 133.33. Barring one match against Japan, the southpaw scored fifty plus scores in all other matches in the competition.
The only hundred Yashasvi scored was in the crucial semi-final encounter against Pakistan. Apart from the fact that the hundred came against arch-rival Pakistan, another reason which makes the knock extra-special is that it was witnessed by Jwala, despite his student strictly asking him not to be there down in South Africa.
“My original plan was to be in South Africa, actually with my family. But before the semi-finals, I was speaking to him (Yashasvi) and he said I was kind of alone. So, I thought let’s go there and support him before the finals,” said coach Jwala.
Yashasvi might have wanted his coach to be away from South Africa since his presence could have made Yashasvi nervous, but the young cricketer couldn’t be happier that ‘the most important person in his life’ witnessed his first World Cup ton.
But Yashasvi’s life wasn’t without his fair share of struggles. After arriving in Mumbai from Uttar Pradesh at a young age of 10 years, Yashasvi had tough time in the city. It was only after Jwala Singh, took him under his wing, Yashasvi’s life took a turn for good.
Their association began in December 2013, after Yashasvi enrolled in Jwala Singh’s cricket academy.
Apart from providing him cricket coaching, Jwala also invited him to stay at his place and became his legal guardian. So, it isn’t a surprise when Yashasvi equates his coach to his God and calls him ‘his everything’.
As a tribute to his coach, the batsman wears his coach’s birthday as his jersey number. In fact, he wore the number in the recently concluded World Cup.
When Yashasvi got selected for the India U-19 squad, he had to give the jersey number and it was during that time he had called his coach to enquire about his birthday.
“I didn’t know that he was going to do something like this. I am very happy that he is following me and following my passion,” the coach said.
Not only the student, even the coach had planned something special for his diligent ward.
Yashasvi has kept his word and now it is time for the coach to deliver. But Jwala Singh has already done so much for the young cricketer and all this for the common love for cricket and how the coach believes that both had a similar back story.
There are certain things you don’t have any answer to. Whenever I sit with him, I ask him how there are certain special relationships blossom overnight. Actually he had the same backstory that I had. And I feel that it is one of the biggest reasons.
Jwala sir had provided a stranger kid with food and shelter.
“I had a similar dream. When I was 12 years of age I came from Gorakhpur to Mumbai. When he was telling me about his struggles – how nobody is supporting him, his father and mother stay far away. It felt as if I was talking to myself and I always had at the back of my mind that I will someday do something to support someone,” said Coach Jwala.
And once again, Yashasvi is at loss of word. The only things he manages to say ‘Jwala Sir is like a god to me.’
Apart from all the good things that is happening in Yashasvi’s life, another milestone for the 19-year-old cricketer was when he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League for a whopping Rs 2.4 crore. And the coach cannot be more excited.
The coach is elated at the fact that Shane Warne will be there when Yashasvi will start attending the preparatory.
“During the camp, I will advise him that whatever doubts he has to get cleared from all the big players who will be in the camp. Even Shane Warne will be there and he bowls the leg-spin well. We will try our best to learn from these people. We are lucky that we will get these people around us. And I believe it is very important to learn things,” the coach added.
As Yashasvi looks at his coach with full devotion while he speaks, coach Jwala continues to reiterate what he told Yashasvi since the beginning.
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