Yashasvi Jaiswal on hunger behind scoring big runs: ‘Even when getting the bus you have to work really hard to get the bus’

Yashasvi Jaiswal has explained his hunger for scoring big runs to “catching buses, rickshaws and trains” in India.

At 22, Jaiswal had already scored two double hundreds in Test cricket and he is only the third youngest after Vinod Kambli and Donald Bradman. In the third Test at Rajkot, Jaiwal was retired-hurt on 105, came back to end up with a second-consecutive double-hundred, in the course of which he equalled the record for the most sixes in a Test innings and carried India to the record for most sixes in a Test. India also beat their own record for most sixes in a series – with two Tests to spare in this gig, of course.

He explained the secret behind hunger of scoring big runs to Anil Kumble and Nick Knight after India’s 434-run win on Day 4 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

“In India, when grow up, you work really hard for each and everything” he said after helping India take a 2-1 lead over England.

India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal celebeates scoring 200 runs during the 4th day of the 3rd cricket Test match between India and England, at Niranjan Shah Stadium, in Rajkot, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (PTI Photo)

“Even when getting the bus you have to work really hard to get the bus. You have to work really hard to get to the train and auto rickshaw and everything and I have done that since my childhood and I know how important every innings is and that’s why I really work hard in my practice sessions and every innings counts for me and for my team that is my biggest motivation to play for my country and I just make sure that whenever I’m there I need to give my 100% and then enjoy.”

It was his second double hundred in just six matches, having made his debut against the West Indies in July 2023.

“Test cricket is hard, but I thought that when I’m in there, I need to give my 100 per cent,” Jaiswal said.

“I’m just trying. Whenever I’m set, I try to make it big. Because in Test cricket you never know, when you’re playing well you have to make it big.”

Analysing his double century, Jaiswal said he just tried to play session by session and also had to overcome a back problem en route the knock.

Yashasvi Jaiswal scores a feisty fifty in the opening session on Day 1 of the second Test against England. (Reuters)

“It was pretty difficult for me because initially I wasn’t getting runs. So had to play the session, and get set. That’s when I felt I could score runs. “After a while my back was not good. I didn’t want to go out (of the field) but since it was too much, I went out. Today when I came, I wanted to make sure that I take the game forward and bat till the end,” he said.

The southpaw said as an opener his job is to give the team a good start.

“I felt there was something in the wicket and the ball was hard. For me, it is important for me to give teams a good start so it was important for me to play long,” Jaiswal said.

“I tell myself whenever I get set, I need to score well because you can get out anytime. My seniors have said to make it count.” He was also motivated by the knocks of skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings.

“The way Rohit (Sharma) bhai and (Ravindra Jadeja) Jaddu bhai played, that motivated me a lot. Their passion determined me to play session by session. I thought inside the dugout that when I go out there I should also make it count,” Jaiswal said.

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