India vs West Indies 2023: Is Yashasvi Jaiswal the next cricket sensation?

Young Indian cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal, who once struggled to establish his place in the game, is now a name etched in the hearts and minds of cricket fans across the country. Being in the form of his life, starting with his international debut in the first Test match against West Indies on Caribbean soil, his performance is one to be remembered. It's not only because of his record-breaking 171-run stand that earned him a place amongst some of the game's legends but also his significant contribution in India's dominating win.

Now, as he plays in the second test, Jaiswal has supplemented his debut ton in the first Test match with a half-century in the first innings and a respectable 38 in the second innings of the second Test against West Indies.

However, the road hasn't been easy for the young lad. Earlier, Jaiswal's selection in the Test team for the India vs West Indies tour had incited mixed reactions from fans with some hailing it as a positive move while others claiming the decision to be misguided on the basis of his blistering IPL 2023 performance.

Nevertheless, Jaiswal smashed all doubts as skillfully as he scored runs on his Test debut. After opening for India along with skipper Rohit Sharma, he went on to score his maiden international century off 215 deliveries on Day 2 of the match. Displaying a patient and composed temperament, he scored easy runs on Windsor Park's slow pitch in Dominica.

With this notable knock, he became India's first opener to score a century on Test debut at an overseas venue. But that is just a needle in the haystack of records that he has registered in his name since he arrived in the world of international cricket.

With expectations soaring high after Jaiswal stood his ground against West Indies bowlers, his dismissal at 57(74) during India's first innings of second Test seemed like a missed opportunity to score another century. He chased a delivery off-stump and was caught by Kirk McKenzie off Jason Holding's ball.

While West Indies' bowling attack was hardly as formidable as it had been during the 1980s, it does not take away from Jaiswal's stride towards a promising international career.

His historic debut placed him alongside the likes of Gundappa Vishwanath, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma, who all scored a century on debut. He also won the ‘Player of the Match' award for his performance in the first test match.

That's not it. After establishing his precision with the bat, he also garnered appreciation for his fielding, in particular, for Alick Athanaze's catch on short leg. Athanaze, was the lone warrior for West Indies and his dismissal was key in extending India's dominance in the innings.

Also Read: They came, they played, they conquered!

But does this performance in his debut match make him the next cricket icon? Well, it certainly is a reflection of his skill and talent because it is just the beginning of several milestones and challenges that await him.

As much as we like to celebrate the career-highs of sports players -- that one moment of glory, that one game that brings them to notice, that one tournament where their performance speaks for them - it is important not to overlook the consistency that this youngster has brought to the game since he started playing, and the amount of effort he will have to put in to extend this momentum of success.

Jaiswal has risen to this recognition after displaying impressive performances in the U-19 World Cup in 2020, domestic cricket leagues like Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy and the ever-popular Indian Premier League (IPL) with half-centuries and centuries.

Hailing from Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh, Jaiswal, under the guidance of coach Jwala Singh, managed to establish a fearless and robust batting approach early on in his career.

While it may seem like a one-hit wonder, his is not a story of instant success. It's that of skill, hard work and consistency. During the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Jaiswal, who was then 17 years old, scored three centuries. He also smashed a double century, becoming the youngest player to do so in 50-overs cricket. The following year, he was a batting mainstay for the Indian team in the U-19 World Cup, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 400 runs.

He has been a force to be reckoned with in domestic cricket since his arrival.

What brought him to the notice of the masses and made him a household name among cricket fans was his distinguishable spell in IPL 2023. Representing Rajasthan Royals, he scored 625 runs, his highest score being 124 against Mumbai Indians. His 13-ball fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders became the talk of the town alongside many other IPL records that he broke.

But what many don't know is that when he made his IPL debut in 2020 for Rajasthan Royals, he got to play only three games because he failed to deliver for the team. It has clearly been his consistency and improvement that has enabled him to perform well and be noticed by several Indian and international players two seasons later.

After all, you don't play across different formats of the game and break records in each one of them, if you don't have what it takes to excel in the sport.

As reflected in his strong partnerships with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ongoing India vs West Indies Test match, and also revealed by him, his communication with teammates and the willingness to take advice from senior players and coaches proves to be beneficial for him.

Formerly typecast as a red-ball specialist, Jaiswal has now proved his mettle in the white-ball format as well. However, how he balances the two and adapts to the requirements of the formats against international teams cannot be determined based on one match.

Jaiswal is also in the T20I squad for the ongoing India vs West Indies tour. Unfortunately, he is not a part of the ODI squad. Before he made his Test debut earlier this month, he had also travelled with the Indian team as a stand-by player for the World Test Championship final at The Oval, against Australia. It was a match where the best and most experienced of the Indian players also faltered against a formidable Australian attack.

Jaiswal didn't get to play then but he may have witnessed the unpredictable nature of the game - a game where an underdog Indian team can defeat the most successful West Indies line-up in the 1983 World Cup, or the best-performing Indian Test players can fall to the hands of circumstance, action and opponent strength in the 2023 WTC Final.

While Jaiswal has earned a place in many cricket charts, it is important to note that this is not just a game of records. What also matters is how you can contribute to the game at the most crucial moments - a parameter that becomes more rooted with experience.

A confident mindset towards the game is key to performing well. In a conversation with mid-day earlier this year, Yashasvi Jaiswal had reiterated that he tries to focus on being disciplined and getting the things that are in his control right, instead of focusing on the results.

Also Read: New challenges, same formula for Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal has made an optimistic start to his international career with greats like Sunil Gavaskar, Harbhajan Singh and AB de Villiers backing him and his bright future with the Indian cricket team. But in his own words, "This is just a start."