Young Indian batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal has shared a delightful behind-the-scenes moment from his maiden One Day International century, revealing the unique way Virat Kohli celebrated his milestone. Jaiswal, who scored the ton against South Africa in Visakhapatnam earlier this year, became the sixth Indian to join the elite club of players with centuries in all three formats of men's cricket.
Kohli's Bollywood-Style Celebration
Recalling the incident on sports journalist Vimal Kumar's YouTube channel, Jaiswal described a light-hearted interaction with the legendary Virat Kohli. "There is a song called 'Lagan Lag Gayi Re'. So Kohli was singing that song to me and dancing. That was a fun conversation," Jaiswal revealed. He elaborated on Kohli's dual nature, stating that while the former captain has a great sense of humour and can be very funny, his intensity on the field is unmatched. "I really enjoy playing with him," Jaiswal added, noting that Kohli had also offered him valuable advice before he went out to bat.
Guidance from Legends: Tendulkar and Dravid
Jaiswal's journey has been shaped by guidance from other cricketing greats. He fondly remembered an early interaction with the iconic Sachin Tendulkar. "When I was going to play U-19 India, Sachin sir had called me home. I spoke a lot to him. I was very nervous when I went to his home for the first time," he shared. This mentorship from a young age clearly left a lasting impression on the rising star.
Speaking about current head coach Rahul Dravid, Jaiswal was full of praise. "Rahul sir is an amazing human being and an amazing coach. He is very humble and teaches us a lot," he said. Jaiswal emphasized Dravid's holistic approach, which extends beyond just cricket. The coach's philosophy, as shared by Jaiswal, focuses on learning from every experience: "He always says it does not matter how many games you play, but what you learn from them is very important."
Joining an Elite Batting Club
With that century in Visakhapatnam, Yashasvi Jaiswal etched his name into the record books. He is now the sixth Indian and the 32nd player overall to have scored centuries in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket. The elite Indian list ahead of him includes Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.
Despite being a mainstay in the Test side, Jaiswal had to patiently wait for his opportunities in the 50-over format, even with a prolific List A record. This century was his sixth in 50-over cricket, a format where he had already made history in 2019 by becoming the youngest player ever to score a double century.
Jaiswal's revelations offer a heartwarming glimpse into the camaraderie and mentorship within the Indian cricket team. The blend of Kohli's celebratory spirit, Dravid's grounded coaching, and Tendulkar's early encouragement has undoubtedly played a part in shaping the promising career of this young left-handed batsman.
