In the run-up to the ICC U-19 World Cup final against Bangladesh, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal-who is the tournament’s top run-getter so far-revealed how Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Wasim Jaffer’s tips helped him cope in South Africa.
” He’s my idol, sir Sachin. Wasim sir continues to tell me how to create an innings. He has given me tips on how to handle the pace and bounce on the fast wickets here since he’s played in South Africa. Sachin sir gave me valuable advice, saying, ‘ Every bowler will give you an indication of what he will bowl next. You need to focus and catch the hint,” Jaiswal said.
Dravid, who coached India to the 2017 U-19 World Cup triumph, also paid a visit to the team in South Africa the previous month and it was then that the youngster got to pick the brain of the iconic batsman.
Jaiswal Kept Questioning On Dravid
” I keep putting a lot of questions to Dravid. When the team is under enormous pressure I asked him how to bat. He gave me simple advice: ‘ It is very, very hard just to concentrate on the next shot.”
Jaiswal scored a century in India’s 10-wicket semi-final victory over Pakistan, and also spoke about his thinking process and what his coach Jwala Singh had told him to do before the match.
Being a frontline batsman, a little before that game, I was feeling the pressure. When I was batting with (fellow opener) Divyansh (Saxena), they sledded us a lot.
We were determined to win the game, however, without losing a wicket, and we were so pleased to do so and go to the final. Jaiswal had scored three fifties before that innings.
” Jwala sir (his coach) instructed me to break up my innings into two parts before the semifinal. Once I had scored my fifty, I should have thought I was batting on zero now. That helped me to break this barrier.”
