Yashasvi Jaiswal will be the 1st name picked for India in T20Is after IPL 2023Ravi Shastri

By India Today Sports DeskFormer India head coach Ravi Shastri said he has no doubts that Yashasvi Jaiswal will get an India call-up immediately after the IPL 2023 season, regardless of who plays or doesn’t play for the senior national team. Shastri’s comments came after Jaiswal hit a sensational 47-ball 98 not out in Rajasthan Royals’ 9-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on May 11.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a 13-ball fifty, the fastest half-century in the history of the IPL and went on hammer the KKR bowlers, putting on a stunning show of big-hitting at the Eden Gardens.

Jaiswal’s knock which left even the likes of Virat Kohli in awe helped RR chase down a 150-run target in just 13.1 overs. Jaiswal missed his second century of IPL 2023 as RR did not have enough runs to chase after Sanju Samson also joined in the party hitting a 29-ball 48 not out.

Jaiswal, who was part of India’s U19 World Cup team in 2020, has gone on to score big in domestic cricket. After a stellar Vijay Hazare Trophy season and a fine Ranji Trophy season, the 21-year-old has translated the form into IPL 2023, hitting 575 runs in 12 matches.

KKR vs RR, IPL 2023 Highlights

“Jaiswal continues to wow everybody who watches him. In some of his shots through the off-side, the head is absolutely still and the footwork is impeccable. For someone who is 21 years old, he has come up the hard way,” Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.

“Immediately (How soon will he get an India call-up?). The selectors would love seeing what they are seeing. They would love to see such a talent after a long wait, someone who is so good across all formats.

“And especially, in white-ball cricket, in T20 cricket, he walks into the side irrespective of who’s there. His will be the first name picked,” Shastri added.

‘WE EAT PANI PURI, HE USED TO MAKE IT’

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fight against hardships in his childhood will only make him prepared mentally for the road ahead and the people around him should ensure he remains grounded with all the success coming his way, the former India captain said.

Yashasvi Jaiswal came from a financially backward background and had to help his father at a chat shop in Mumbai to make ends meet.

“When you go through that kind of hardshipâ€æ Pani Puri, we all eat it. He had to do it to make ends meet. You are tough, you are really tough mentally. You are ready. And you can see he is sorted. Let’s hope he stays that way. It’s important when you come up that quickly. I hope he gets the best guidance, and he is kept grounded. He is not someone who is going to forget it. It’s going to reap him rewards like never before,” Shastri said.

REFRESHING ONE LINE FROM JAISWAL!

Shastri said he liked the way Yashasvi spoke after winning the Player of the Match award on Thursday for his 98 not out vs KKR, adding that he was impressed with the way he played down the missed opportunity to get a hundred.

Jaiswal, who was stranded on 98 not out, said he was not thinking about the milestone and that the shot to bring up the win for RR in the 14th over was his favourite of the stroke-filled knock in Kolkata.

“Even the way he speaks now, it’s so refreshing to hear that one line.. We are obsessed with hundreds in this country, IPL hundreds. IPl is about goals and runs. He was happy with the shot that he played to win the match and reach 98. It tells you a lot. That 98 is as good as any 100 anybody has played. It’s more than any hundred,” Shastri said.

RR jumped to the 3rd spot in the IPL 2023 points table to boost their chances of reaching the playoffs.