Wasim Jaffer's advice worked wonders for me, says India U-19 Asia Cup star Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi scored a match-winning 85 for India, against Sri Lanka in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

Yashasvi scored 85 in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup in Bangladesh | AP

“Don’t leave the crease until you're well set and sure of getting on top of the bowlers.” 

This simple but shrewd advice from veteran batsman Wasim Jaffer turned a corner for India U-19 opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who got out twice stepping out in the recently concluded home quadrangular series and sought help from the Mumbai and India stalwart over it, before going on to play with greater focus and composure in India's winning campaign during the U-19 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. 

Tells you something about Yashasvi that having scored 35,103 and 17 in the U-19 quadrangular tournament, which featured Nepal, Afghanistan, along with India A and India B, he still wanted to not leave any stone unturned before the marquee event in Bangladesh, and went on to register knocks of 104, 92, 37 before making a brilliant 85 in the final against Sri Lanka on Sunday, October 7 to help India clinch the title. 

Talking about his performance and how much he is pleased with it, Yashasvi told Indian Express, “I’m really happy but disappointed at the manner I was given out. I could have scored another century. I remember before coming here I had a good preparation with Jwala (Singh) sir and I had few issues where I was getting out while stepping out. I kept batting for three-three hours entire day," before revealing, "It was Wasim bhai who came as a big help. He said sab grounded shot mar, aur tez maar so that boundary mile. Once I’m not sure I should not leave my crease. I just did that during this Asia Cup, I never stepped out except in final.”

The success hasn't come easy at all to Yashasvi, who has been a prolific run-getter at the junior level. He also talked about the recent incident, when he was dropped from India's U-19 team on the tour of Sri Lanka after twin failures in his first two games. 

“Mann darr gaya tha, my coach Jwala Singh sir kept motivating me,” he said on being left out on the back of 15 and 1 and also talked about how that outstanding hundred in the last game during the same series changed his fortunes, “I got last game and scored 114 not out. It was a big boost and later Raman sir (WV Raman) came and said that I should just try to play entire 50 overs and rest will follow, luckily things have gone as I wanted. I just try to play those copy book shots and not to try anything extra.” 

Sky is the limit for a talent like Yashasvi. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 08 Oct, 2018

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