Sleeping in a groundsman's tent at night and selling panipuri by day may sound like the plot of a sports film. For Yashasvi Jaiswal, it was part of his real journey toward becoming an international cricketer.
Born on December 28, 2001, in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, Jaiswal moved to Mumbai at the age of 10 to pursue his cricket ambitions. The early years were marked by financial hardship, unstable accommodation and long hours of practice. Yet those difficulties did not stop him from progressing through Mumbai's cricket system.
Years later, the left-handed opener would score a century on his Test debut and establish himself as one of India's leading opening batsmen.
Here is a closer look at Yashasvi Jaiswal's story, from his struggles at Mumbai's Azad Maidan to his breakthrough in domestic cricket, the IPL and Test cricket.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's Early Life and Move to Mumbai
Jaiswal grew up in a modest family. His father ran a small hardware store in Uttar Pradesh, and supporting a young cricketer in Mumbai was financially difficult.
At just 10 years old, Jaiswal moved to Mumbai because he wanted access to better cricket opportunities and training.
Life in the city was far from straightforward. He briefly worked at a bakery, but lost the job after the owner objected to the amount of time he spent playing cricket.
With few options for accommodation, Jaiswal eventually stayed at Azad Maidan, one of Mumbai's major cricket grounds. He was allowed to sleep in a tent used by the groundsmen.
His routine demanded considerable discipline. He reportedly trained for six to eight hours in the morning before spending evenings selling panipuri to spectators and people nearby.
The combination of cricket, work and uncertainty made his early years difficult. But the experience also placed him close to the grounds where he wanted to develop as a player.
The Azad Maidan Years
Jaiswal's story is often reduced to the image of a young cricketer sleeping in a tent. The more important part of that period, however, was what he did with his opportunity to train.
He remained focused on developing his game while dealing with everyday financial and personal challenges.
His early routine included:
Long training sessions: He spent several hours practicing every morning.
Work after cricket: He sold panipuri in the evenings to help support himself.
Living at the ground: The groundsmen's tent provided basic accommodation near his cricket activities.
Developing resilience: Financial insecurity and peer pressure became part of his formative years.
His progress eventually attracted the attention of coach Jwala Singh, who played an important role in his development.
Singh spotted Jaiswal in 2013 and provided him with housing and training facilities. More importantly, he helped give structure to the young cricketer's development.
Jaiswal's Rise Through Junior and Domestic Cricket
Jaiswal's talent became increasingly difficult to overlook as he progressed through Mumbai's junior cricket system.
One of his earliest major achievements came in 2015, when he scored 319 not out and took 13 wickets in the same Giles Shield match. The performance earned recognition in the Limca Book of Records.
His progress continued at the international junior level.
Key Early Milestones
Year | Achievement |
2015 | Scored 319* and took 13 wickets in a Giles Shield match |
2018 | Selected for India's Under-19 Asia Cup squad |
2019 | Scored 203 off 154 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy |
2020 | Finished as the leading run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup |
In 2018, Jaiswal represented India at the Under-19 Asia Cup and helped the team win the tournament.
The following year brought another landmark. Playing for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 203 runs from 154 balls, becoming the youngest player to score a List A double century.
At the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, Jaiswal took another significant step forward. He scored 400 runs, finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer and received the Player of the Tournament award.
These performances established him as one of India's most promising young batting prospects.
From Domestic Cricket to the IPL
Jaiswal's rise through age-group and domestic cricket eventually led to an IPL opportunity.
The Rajasthan Royals bought him for INR 2.4 crore at the 2020 auction. His first IPL season was relatively quiet, but the experience gave him an opportunity to work within a professional environment and learn from experienced coaches and players.
His development became particularly evident in the 2023 season.
Jaiswal scored 625 runs in 14 matches, including his maiden IPL century. He made 124 from 62 balls against the Mumbai Indians, demonstrating the combination of power, timing and attacking intent that would become a defining feature of his batting.
He also produced one of the most notable batting records of the season by scoring the fastest fifty in IPL history, reaching the milestone in just 13 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 11, 2023.
The IPL had given Jaiswal a platform to develop his aggressive style against high-level opposition. His next challenge was proving that the same underlying technique could succeed in Test cricket.
Test Debut and a Major Breakthrough
Jaiswal made his Test debut for India against the West Indies in Dominica in July 2023.
Opening the innings, he scored 171 runs and was named Player of the Match. It was a significant statement from a player whose reputation had largely been built through junior cricket, domestic cricket and T20 performances.
His Test success also demonstrated that his attacking style could be adapted to the longer format.
Rather than relying exclusively on aggression, Jaiswal showed that he could absorb pressure, defend when required and build a long innings.
That adaptability became even clearer during India's home series against England in early 2024.
Jaiswal scored 209 in Vizag and followed it with an unbeaten 214 in Rajkot, producing back-to-back Test double centuries. Those innings strengthened his position as a major part of India's Test batting setup.
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