The upcoming 2024 ICC T20 World Cup is set to take place in the West Indies and the USA, marking a unique shift for the shortest format of cricket. All eyes will be on Yashasvi Jaiswal who is tipped to be the net big thing in the World cricket and has got wide range of shots. The billion people would be hoping that Yashasvi Jaiswal makes the most of this opportunity as pitches in Caribbean & USA will be tricky.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: From Debut Brilliance to Projected Opener
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Jwala Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s coach, confidant, and mentor, shared his conviction that the young Indian talent “will take the opening slot” for the Indian team.
While the West Indies may not frequently host tours and tournaments, it holds special significance for Jaiswal as the place where he made his breakthrough for India. At just 22 years old, he marked his debut at the Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica, with a remarkable innings of 171 runs. This stellar performance propelled India to a commanding victory in a Test match, clinching it by an innings and 141 runs.
With an impressive track record in T20Is, Yashasvi Jaiswal has exclusively operated as an opener throughout his career. Across 16 innings representing India in this format, he has notched up four half-centuries and one century, all while maintaining a striking rate of 161.93.
“This debate rang out earlier too in Test cricket when he was going to the West Indies. Many people used to say he would play at number 3 because (Cheteshwar) Pujara was out of the team and that was the only spot. But, I believe when he played, the team management put in much trust in him… Shubman Gill played at the number 3 spot. As far as I know him, I think he would like to open the innings and rest team management, captain, and coaches will decide,” Jwala told IANS.
IPL’s Role in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Mental Growth
He elaborated extensively on his belief that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has significantly contributed to the remarkable mental growth in Yashasvi’s cricketing prowess. This exposure has enabled the dynamic left-handed batsman to mature considerably, equipping him with the ability to adapt to various formats of the game and effectively support his team in diverse situations.
“He did have a slow start, beginning with the Mumbai Indians U-16 and India U-19 teams. On his Ranji debut, he managed only 20 runs, and on his Vijay Hazare debut, he scored just 44, so he’s definitely a player who takes his time to settle in. However, I believe that since he began playing in the IPL, particularly in the last two seasons, he has shown significant growth in maturity. Now, he’s adept at adapting to various formats of the game and contributing effectively to his team in diverse situations,” said Jwala.
“The World Cup is a huge stage for him and if Ravi Shastri has praised him then he surely must have observed his game before making the comments. I hope, as a coach, father figure and mentor, that he go and play good cricket and end the ICC trophy drought that the Indian cricket team has had. I will be very very happy,” he added.