Yashasvi Jaiswal kicked off his international career with a century on Test debut.
Yashasvi Jaiswal kicked off his international career with a century on Test debut against the West Indies at Roseau in July 2023. Since then, the southpaw hasn’t looked back, establishing himself as India’s first-choice opening batter in the longest format.
Recently, Jaiswal revealed how former skipper Rohit Sharma helped him settle nerves and make a memorable start to his international career.
“He spoke to me really well. He said a lot of things that gave me a lot of confidence. He kept telling me, ‘You’re free—go out there, play freely, play your shots with confidence. But try that if you get set, then make it a big innings.’ So there were many such conversations,” Jaiswal said on Vimal Kumar's YouTube channel, as quoted by India Today.
That reassurance came as soon as the team landed on the Caribbean shores. “Almost fifteen days before, he had already told me. He said, ‘I won’t tell you just one day before that you’re playing. I’m telling you fifteen days in advance—you’re going to play. Prepare yourself. We’ll prepare together, and we’ll do it properly.’ That was his thought process,” Jaiswal recalled.
The clarity he received from Rohit helped settle Jaiswal ahead of his India debut. “So the moment I found out that I was going to make my debut, it was a very special moment for me. I had never played for India before, and this was my first time,” he said.
Jaiswal was full of admiration while speaking about Rohit’s influence. “What can I even say about Rohit bhai? I honestly don’t have words for him. What a person he is. What a guy. He’s like an elder brother—he teaches you, he inspires you.”
Sharing the dressing room with senior players helped him immensely. “It’s a dream for so many people to play alongside Rohit bhai, Virat paaji, Hardik bhai,” Jaiswal said, before describing himself as fortunate to observe their preparation and understand how seriously they approach the game.
The emphasis on responsibility is something that left the biggest impression on Jaiswal. “They teach us that this is Indian cricket and that we must take care of it, carry it forward, and give our best in our own way,” he stated.
As of today, Yashasvi Jaiswal has represented India in 28 Tests, 4 ODIs and 23 T20Is. The 24-year-old has 9 international centuries to his name, and is expected to carry India’s rich batting legacy for the next decade or so.