From selling pani puris to chasing cricket dreams: Cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal opens up about his struggling days

Synopsis

Yashasvi Jaiswal's life story shows his early challenges. He moved to Mumbai as a child. He sold pani puris for survival. He lived in a tent at a cricket club. His journey from humble beginnings to cricket sensation is documented. He became India's youngest List A double-centurion. His daily routine reflects discipline.

Before the IPL lights and record-breaking innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s life was a mix of hustle, hope, and sheer grit. The 23-year-old cricket prodigy spent his early years in Mumbai chasing a dream that seemed bigger than his means. From selling pani puris on Mumbai streets to smashing records in the IPL, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s journey is pure hustle-meets-dream-chasing energy. The cricket sensation went from living in tents and grinding every day to becoming India’s youngest double-centurion in List A cricket. In a candid chat with Raj Shamani, Yashasvi opened up about the struggles, sacrifices, and sheer grit that shaped him—showing that behind every boundary he hits is a story of hard work, persistence, and passion.

His early days of struggle

Born in Uttar Pradesh, Yashasvi’s family couldn’t offer much, but that didn’t stop him. At the tender age of 9 or 10, he moved to Mumbai, initially staying with his uncle before earning a spot to live in a tent at a local cricket club. “All I cared about was being on the ground, playing, and practising,” he recalled. To survive, he sold pani puris, helped with club chores, and did whatever work came his way—never seeing any task as too small. Every bit of effort, he says, was part of the grind that kept him close to his dream.

Discipline of the cricket sensation

Even now, Yashasvi’s daily routine is a masterclass in discipline. On practice days, he wakes up around 6:30 or 7, meditates, and eases into his training schedule. Depending on the format he’s preparing for—T20, ODI, or Test—his practice sessions are highly focused, simulating match scenarios in nets, honing skills, and building stamina. He shared that every session is about pushing limits and learning from each ball.

About Yashasvi Jaiswal's journey in cricket

From Mumbai streets to international cricket stardom, Yashasvi Jaiswal has carved an impressive journey. Bursting onto the scene through U-19 cricket, he shone in the 2020 U-19 World Cup and earned a spot with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. According to Cricbuzz, despite a slow start, he hit form spectacularly in the 2023 IPL, including the fastest 50 in IPL history and his maiden hundred. Internationally, he debuted with 171 in Tests and followed up with back-to-back double centuries against England. A record-breaking, six-hitting southpaw, Jaiswal remains India’s leading Test run-scorer in 2024. Meanwhile, Yashasvi is back in India's ODI team for the Australia series. The left-handed batter will be India's backup opener.

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