By In the latest third cricket test match between India and England, Yashasvi Jaiswal showed incredible skill by scoring an outstanding 214 runs without getting out. He hit 14 fours and an impressive 12 sixes during his innings.
Jaiswal’s twelve sixes in this remarkable performance matched the world record for the most sixes hit in a single test innings. This achievement puts him on par with Wasim Akram, the legendary pace bowler, who also hit 12 sixes in a test match against Zimbabwe back in 1996.
A Prolific Scorer
 With his unbeaten knock of 214, the brilliant left-handed batsman also achieved the coveted feat of becoming the third Indian cricketer after Vinod Kambli and Virat Kohli to score double centuries in consecutive test matches. In the second test of the ongoing India-England five test match test series, Jaiswal scored 209 from 290 balls, in the first innings.Â
He’s become the sole Indian cricketer to notch up two double centuries against England in test matches.
Till now, the 22-year-old has scored 971 runs in only eight tests, with a more than impressive average of 69.35 and his recent batting prowess against England is showing ample indication of him emerging as a future batting legend for India. His amazing six hitting frequency during the ongoing India-England test series in menâs cricket has made him the first player in 147-year-old history of test cricket to hit 20 or more sixes in a series. So far in the India-England test series, he’s smashed a total of 23 sixes, and there’s still one more test match left to play.
Overcoming Challenges
Born in Suriyawan, Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, on 28th December 2001 as the fourth of the six children to Bhupendra Jaiswal and Kanchan Jaiswal, his fascinating journey in cricket began when he shifted to Mumbai at the age of 10 to receive cricket training. He was then living with his uncle. Jaiswal was spurred by the dream to play cricket for India.
However, while commuting everyday from Dadar to Azaad Maidan didnât leave him with sufficient time to concentrate on cricket, which motivated him to shift base. He then started living in a dairy shop at Kalbadevi. In exchange for accommodation, he had to provide menial help. However, he could not work to the satisfaction of the dairy shop owner and was eventually thrown out of the shop. He was only 11 then.
Then Imran from Muslim United Club came as his benefactor, who offered him to stay at a tent in Azad Maidan. For three years, Jaiswal lived in the Muslim United Clubâs tent at the Azad Maidan ground with groundsmen. Though occasionally, his father would send some money but that was never enough. He even sold pani-puri during Ram Leela. His parents of course, told him to come back to his native village but even at such a tender age Jaiswal displayed remarkable resolve to continue with his uphill struggle in pursuit of his dream.
The fruition of his future cricket career received an impetus when a local coach named Jwala Singh entered his life. Jwala supported Jaiswal and mentored Jaiswalâs talent to give shape to a super talented international cricketer.
Calling the Shots
Jaiswal first attracted news in 2015 when he scored 319 not out and took 13/99 in a Giles Shield match, which created an all-round record in school cricket in India.Â
Jaiswal came to limelight when as a 17-year-old, he amassed 318 runs in the 2018 Under-19 Asia Cup, which India won. He was also adjudged as the player of the tournament. In the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, Jaiswal made his first-class debut for Mumbai. In a Youth Test match against South Africa under-19s, he scored 173 from 220 balls, in 2019.
Even at the formative stage of his cricket career, he displayed a penchant for records. In 2019, the young batter became the youngest cricketer to score a double century in List A cricket, when while opening for Mumbai, he scored a brilliant 203 from only 154 balls with 17 fours and 12 sixes against Jharkhand, in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was only 17 years and 292 days old at that time.
Jaiswal has one century in T20I till now, which came in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in a India vs Nepal match, where he smashed 100 from only 49 balls. With that century, he became the youngest Indian batsman to score a century in T20I. He has four half centuries in T20I till date.
For the 2020 IPL auction, his cricketing services were bought by Rajasthan Royals. Jaiswal scored his first T20 century against Mumbai Indians when he smashed a swashbuckling 124 from only 62 balls on 30th April 2023. Just twelve days later, he achieved another remarkable feat of hitting the fastest half-century in Indian Premier League (IPL), when he reached his fifty in only 13 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders. Previous fastest half century in IPL was jointly held by KL Rahul and the Australian pacer Pat Cummins.Â
Test for SuccessÂ
Yashasvi got introduced to test cricket in the first test of the India-West Indies test series, which was held in the last year. He scored a century (171) in his debut test only, becoming the 17th Indian to achieve such a remarkable feat. He was also adjudged the Player of the Match in his first test match. Yashasvi made his T20 international debut against the West Indies only, in August 2023.
One can expect him breaking many batting records in the near future. His triumph against odds has the potential to inspire a generation of future cricketers for India.
