After a record-breaking IPL and a subsequent Test call-up, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s star is certainly on the rise and praises are coming from all directions.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain is the latest in the line of Jaisal adrimers. He expressed his own astonishment of Jaiswal’s skills and revealed what his commentary colleagues said about the talented Southpaw of Rajasthan Royals.
What did Nasser Hussain say
The former England captain heaped praise on Jaiswal for his fantastic start, and how everybody who has seen him play raves about his unique talent. In the ICC Review, he talked about how people who worked in the IPL have almost become accustomed to the brilliance of Jaiswal, name-checking former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Ponting, along with many others who have seen the left-hander in the IPL believe that Jaiswal can certainly play at the top level, and his recent seamless transition to test cricket is a testament to that.
The sky sports commentator went on to praise the domestic structure of Indian cricket which has kept on producing exceptional talents who are further enhanced in the IPL. Jaiswal’s fantastic technique and mindset have caught Nasser’s eye in particular, which he credits for the left-hander’s immediate success.
Nasser said while IPL has been a huge influence behind many Indian batters’ smooth sailing into international cricket, the role of the first-class structure is massively important as well.
Jaiswal’s stellar rise
While the rise of media means that praise and criticism both can often be over the top, in Jaiswal’s case he deserves the plaudits he is getting.
A star of the 2020 U-19 world cup, Jaiswal exploded into serious stardom in this year’s IPL. The RR opener scored a stunning 625 runs, the highest ever tally by an uncapped batter in IPL history.
His compact technique and an array of flamboyant strokes turned quite a few heads around the cricketing world. While RR couldn’t even qualify for the play-offs, Jaiswal marked his arrival as the next Indian batting prodigy.
His consistency across games was rewarded with introduction to the international Test arena, against West Indies. Jaiswal didn’t disappoint as he scored a stellar 171 on debut in the Windsor Park, showing his worth as a multidimensional batter who can play across formats for India in the future.
In a very quick show of faith, he was handed his first T20I cap against the same opposition just a few weeks later. He couldn’t shine in his first game in the format he made his name, but with two games to go, he still has ample time to make his mark.
A feel-good fairytale coming full circle
Yashasvi Jaiswal has one of those stories which warms the heart, a struggling Mumbai kid making it to the big stage through talent and hardwork. He was earmarked for big things right from his U-19 days, but a lot of cricketers fail to realize their potential. Not Yashasvi though.
The Indian opener is a fighter, on and off the field and he will try his very best for his team as he has shown in his short career.
Everybody who has known him wanted him to succeed. After many obstacles and hardships, an inspirational journey is coming to a wonderful turn.
His talent has been noticed by the likes of Kohli, Ponting, Butler; virtually anybody who has seen him play. Accolades are starting to come in from all directions, it seems he has started the path of success he was destined for. Long may it continue.
