I got this message in our work group the morning after the Rajasthan Royals’ game in Kolkata. “There was quite an emotional moment last night after the match,” it said. “The stands were empty. Yashasvi had just finished his post-match presentation. Suddenly he rushed to the middle, towards the wicket where the groundsmen were standing. He took pictures with each one of them. This humble attitude of Yashasvi will take him a long way in his journey. He also took a few selfies. In fact, he was clicking them for the handful of fans who were still around. Respect to the youngster.”
As I read this paragraph, my thoughts went back to what happened with Virat Kohli in Dhaka in 2012. Kohli had just scored a match-winning 183 against Pakistan in a match that had ended close to midnight. The media, there in good numbers, were eagerly waiting for Kohli before filing their copies. Kohli, however, had other things in mind. At Mirpur, the press conference enclosure is on the opposite side of the pavilion, and the player has to walk right across the ground to reach the media area.
Midway through this walk, Kohli stopped and started jogging towards a section of fans in the stands. Close to 2000 people were still screaming ‘Kohli, Kohli’ and he, to our surprise, decided to oblige them with photographs and autographs before making his way to the media scrum. Soon after he reached the press conference room, he apologised to everyone for making them wait, and for having forced them to extend their deadlines.
Also Read: From Assisting a Panipuri Seller to Cracking a Century in IPL, The Inspirational Journey of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal did not make the media wait. Nor did he force them to stretch deadlines. But still, there is an uncanny similarity between these incidents. And despite there being the gap of a decade, things are eerily the same. It is all about respect. Giving back to the sport that has given you a lot, and still does. Paying it forward.
Is Jaiswal ready to play for India, or should he play for India A and then make it to the senior team? Is the IPL a good index to make the national team? While some of these questions don’t have clear answers just yet, the fact is that Jaiswal has pushed the bar this IPL. He has been fearless and consistent. He has shown intent from ball one and meshed with extraordinary talent, he is clearly one of the stars of the tournament.
Whether or not Suyash Sharma deliberately stopped him from getting to his 100, Jaiswal had already done his job. He had given Rajasthan a new lease of life and also improved their Net Run Rate. And it was a wicket where there was turn and grip, as we could see with the first ball of the 13th over, which turned and beat him. By then, however, he had killed the game. In fact, it was over and done with in the powerplay itself.
To do what he did post-game says a lot. It says he is still grounded and humble. Fame, which will come his way in abundance, hasn’t yet changed him. That could well define his journey. With Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli having gone before him, he has people to idolise. And Indian cricket could be richer with someone like him coming to the fore.
Pictures, it is said, speak a thousand words. I leave you all with some from the Eden Gardens. See them, and celebrate Jaiswal for his exploits both on and off the field.