IPL 2020: Yashasvi Jaiswal prepares for his IPL debut amid Coronavirus outbreak

Royals family really gave me a warm welcome, says Jaiswal.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was named the player of the tournament | Getty Images

India’s youngest batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal has earned stardom on the back of his India U-19 performance in this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2020 in South Africa and was due to take a center stage in the 2020 edition of the India Premier League (IPL).

Yashasvi finished as the top-scorer in the U19 World Cup 2020 with 400 runs and was eyeing for a remarkable IPL 2020 debut, but the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has put his dream on halt.

Read Also: IPL 2020: Mike Hesson reveals how he spends his lockdown time in Bengaluru

After being picked up by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for ₹2.40 crore for the IPL 13, the 18-year-old – whose greatest asset is the calm head and supreme confidence in his own abilities, had started preparations for his debut and even attended the Royals camp in Nagpur earlier this month.

Well, it seems that the young gun has to wait for long to make his dream debut in the premier T20 league due to the deadly outbreak of the COVID-19 across the world and he also understands the need of the time as all focus is currently on being safe in this crisis.

Jaiswal told Sportstar: “This is the situation now and I have to deal with it. IPL would be ideal for me but as of now, it is important to remain safe. I want to improve my game, think about the game in these times. I am very motivated. Cricket is my dream and I will keep pursuing it till the day I can. I have many goals. In life, you won’t get what you should get every time.”

Read Also: IPL 2020: No Chris Gayle, no Virat Kohli in Brad Hogg's top 3 powerplay batsmen of IPL

On the Royals camp in Nagpur, the leg-spinner said: “It was a great feeling to be in the camp. The Royals family really gave me a warm welcome. It was great to meet Zubin Bharucha [the Head of Cricket at Royals]. I had good practice sessions. IPL is all about playing in different conditions and on different wickets. Zubin Sir told me a lot of things.”

On the ongoing challenges for the essentials in the country, Jaiswal admitted: “It is really difficult for all of us to get food essentials. Nobody wants to take the risk because anyone can catch the virus.”

While all the sports events called off or postponed due to pandemic, but the Mumbai cricketer said he is doing his training whatever he can do at home, saying: “I got a good start in U-19 but now, I have to keep working to do even better so that I can play at the higher level.”

He signed off by saying: “I am doing whatever I can do at home. I am doing my fitness drills, and mentally, I am trying to remain spirited by constantly talking to my coach, Jwala Singh. I have been in touch with a few of my team-mates. Everybody is at home. Now I have the time to play with my little sister, which is a great thing.”

(With Sportstar Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 29 Mar, 2020

    Share Via