Mumbai opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a gritty 78 in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy final in what was a test of his skill and patience.
The Rajasthan Royals player ended up on the losing side in the Indian Premier League final in May but hopes to win the Ranji Trophy with Mumbai this time around. The left-hand batter has seen a huge surge in his form in recent times and is relishing under pressure.
Coming into the final on the back of three consecutive centuries, Jaiswal had a tough task in front of him with a four-pronged bowling attack of Madhya Pradesh. The 20-year-old was up for the challenge as he attacked the spinners and grinded out against the seamers in overcast conditions.
Jaiswal showed great patience in his battle for two sessions on Wednesday, scoring a gritty 78. He missed the fourth straight century by 22 runs but looked at peace after initial disappointment.
“I’m a little sad, but that’s cricket. I was trying to stay as long as possible at the wicket and play as per the team’s needs. I knew the longer I bat, the more the team will benefit,”
he said.
Jaiswal was dropped from the Mumbai playing XI earlier but earned his place back with some game time in the IPL and the form shown in the match simulations. He has embraced playing under pressure, scoring 35, 103, 100, 181 and 78 in three knockout games.
“A final is different. The mindset is different. People are telling you a lot of things. They want you to do well, but they put pressure on you. I’m happy to take that pressure, I enjoy it and when I do well, I feel proud. I fully trust myself and believe in myself to do that,”
the youngster added.
Jaiswal was left out from the RR playing XI too early in the previous IPL campaign and was brought back in the latter stages. He averaged 33 and struck at 137 in the last seven matches. The upturn in form has opened a door for a potential India A call-up for Jaiswal in the near future.
