Day before yesterday news flashed on screen, U 19 Indian cricket team had won the match and entered into World Cup final. This is India’s seven time to enter into finals of you 19 World Cup Tournament. Already India U 19 team had won the World Cup for four times but this time my interest has grown up because of coach – the great Indian wall Rahul Dravid!!
In the semi-final which took place yesterday, young boy Jaiswal had drawn my attraction for his unbeaten century. He scored 105 not out. In this tournament Indian played five matches and this young boy crossed half-century for three times and dabbed a maiden not out century. After Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill he is in the room now!!
India is becoming slowly as a world-class university for cricket. Cricket has become now a basic game for all Indians. Many young boys from various family backgrounds are coming forward to show their skills. When I saw his unbeaten century I thought who is this Yashasvi Jaiswal? I was so impressed on his game that I could not stop myself from writing something about him. When I searched I found that he is the boy who had crossed many hurdles in his life and reached to this position.
In October 2019, he became youngest player to score double century. I read, once he said, “ I used to sleep in a dairy at Kalbadevi but the owner ask me to move out as I could not help them in their daily work. My parents then requested my uncle to help me out and I started staying at his place for a few days. But as it was not big enough hi too asked me to find a different place. Then I stayed in a tent but I was not having money to buy food. I therefore started selling pani Puri during Ram Leela festivals. I also became a ball boy though I was not asked to. Basically, I did everything through which I could earn money.” His further words are, “ I always used to see voice of boys of my age bringing food for themselves or having lunch with their parents. But for me, it was – Khanna khud banao, khud khao. ( Make your own food, it alone).
There was no breakfast. I used to catch anyone around and request them to buy breakfast for me. Every night used to be candle night dinner. After all there was no electricity and I miss my family every day. I used to cry not only because I became home sick but I could not go for toilet. Going to toilet in night is a big task as there were no toilet at the ground and toilet near fashion Street Used to be closed at night.
When asked about the pressures that cricket offers, Jaiswal stated, “ you talking about mental pressures in cricket! I have faced it daily in my life for years together. Those pressures have made me strong. Scoring runs is not important. I know I will score and take wickets. For me, whether I get the next meal or not that’s most important.”
The boy who sold Pani Puri on Street, sleep hungry in night, no facilities for fulfilling basic human needs (No toilet and no bathroom… You can’t just imagine about such life), but he has a great passion for game and trust and thirst for a dream!!!
What else one want for a fulfilling dream? Living in slum and dreaming for playing for Indian cricket team in blue jersey, is it not madness?? Indeed, such madness is required for achieving anything in life and career!!!
Truly, India has a great potential in Slums, villages and suburban areas. What India needs is Open eyes, mentors and skilled coaches, Who can search the potential and carve them out and show the right approach to walk on perfect path..
Kudo is to Yashasvi Jaiswal!!
