The 21-year-old cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal made headlines when he hit his first century while playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, his rise from poverty to wealth is arguably more remarkable than his cricketing abilities.
When Jaiswal was just 11, he uprooted his family from Uttar Pradesh and moved to Mumbai for economic opportunity. However, he had a tough time making ends meet in the city and ended up selling pani puris. He was forced to set up camp in one of Mumbai’s busiest and most chaotic public locations, Azad Maidan.
Jaiswal pursued his goal of being a professional cricket player despite many obstacles. Finally, some of Mumbai’s cricket coaches saw him playing on the streets and invited him to join their teams. Thanks to their coaching, Jaiswal improved his game and competed in local tournaments.
He worked hard and kept at it, and now he’s a member of the Indian U-19 cricket squad. With 400 runs in 6 innings, Jaiswal led all batters at the 2020 ICC U-19 World Cup, where India placed second.
Jaiswal’s narrative has moved many, and he has benefitted from the advice and encouragement of cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma.
When asked about his travels, Jaiswal shared, “It was difficult, but I never gave up. If I continued at it and trusted in myself, I would go where I wanted to go. I appreciate all the help I’ve had and am committed to continuing to do my best and do right by my nation.”
