Kolkata:An inexplicable, but "memorable innings" by Indian cricket's "next big thing" Yashasvi Jaiswal had the atmosphere at Eden Gardens electric, fans enthralled and former cricketers mesmerized.
His formula?
Routine and process. Jaiswal follows the basics perfectly during practice sessions, most of which are trained at high-intensity levels which has helped him perform in high stakes matches like yesterday's "intense one" against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), an innings he would "remember for a long time".
The RR batter made the contest a lopsided one smacking 13-ball half-century, the fastest in the tournament's history as he went on scoring 98 not out in 47 balls. In the league so far, he has scored an astonishing 575 runs in 12 matches at a staggering strike-rate of over 167 and is just a run shy of Faf du Plessis' current aggregate of 576.
"I will remember this innings for a long time in my life. It was very intense," said the 21-year-old at the post-match media interaction. "When I went to bat, I felt I had very less time and suddenly I felt 'sab sahi jaa raha hai' (everything was falling in place)... I thought I should continue playing like this. It's one of my memorable knocks," Jaiswal told at the post match presser.
Jaiswal goes through intense match simulations during training which has allowed him to replicate the same during match scenarios. Easier said than done, the left-handed batter makes sure to undergo mental training to keep up with his performance in a high-voltage contest, and India call-up might just be a matter of time. "My thumb rule is on my routine and the process, it matters a lot to me. I try my best to keep my focus on that and keep learning every match. It's very important as I have to take my game forward," he added.
Read: 6,6,4,4,2,4,1,4,6,4,4,4,1 - Fastest IPL fifty by Yashasvi Jaiswal; Here's what Cricketers had to say
Grinding hours under the wings of RR's 'Director of Cricket' Zubiin Bharucha at the academy in Talegaon, a small village in Maharashtra has helped him immensely. "I talk a lot with Zubin Sir about my batting. We have a very good academy in Talegaon. My biggest preparation happens there, I can play all my shots, keep myself fit," he said.
And just like any stalwart cricketer, who has earned Indian jersey, Jaiswal puts in enough work for mental preparation as well. "After fielding for 20 overs, you have to go open the innings with such an intensity. So overall, I do what I can outside cricket to keep myself fit, mentally strong. I get the confidence from that."
Picking minds of the legends
The young lad never fails to pick the cricketing brains of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, too, whenever he has his chance. "I always try to be in the zone and remain in the atmosphere. I have many experienced legendary players around me. Whenever I get a chance I keep talking to MS bhai, Virat (Kohli) bhai, Rohit (Sharma) bhai, Jos (Buttler) bhai, Sanju (Samson) bhai on how to keep my mind calm, what to think.
" always try to learn, what all I can improve and bring into my game, how to control... This game is fully mental first then physical. You have to keep yourself in the zone."
Jaiswal was just 17 when he struck an ODI double hundred in a domestic game which brought him into the public eye as he became the youngest cricketer in the world to do so. He scored an astonishing 203 from 154 balls against Jharkhand at Alur during the Vijay Hazare Trophy and earned Royals trust that bagged him at Rs 2.4 crore, more than 12 times his base price.
However, the marquee player bloomed late having scored three half-centuries in the first 23 matches of the league. The success, though, soon came knocking when he scored a 62-ball 124 against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede. Jaiswal said he is a team player and never paid attention to an approaching milestone while batting. "I never think about all this. I always think about what the team wants from me, what shots I can play. How to keep the run-rate high. We have seen 215 is chaseable here (Eden). It depends on team requirement. I try my best to do what my team needs, it's well and good if I get to a milestone in the process."
Knack of finishing off games
The fact that he didn't go for a six that could have earned him a century but a boundary so that the team crosses the line safely speaks volumes of the team's man that he is. "I had the intent to hit a six (and get to century) but it's okay, I also wanted to play long win the match. From a last few games, I've been trying hard to stay till the end and finish the game. That's my mindset always."
He blasted off 26 runs in the first over of Nitish Rana. "I wasn't taken aback seeing Rana bowl the first over. You expected the wicket to offer turn from the new ball. When I saw Nitish Bhai coming to bowl the first over, I backed myself to play my shots and score some quick runs, even if it was the first ball of the match. You never knew where the first ball would land. I just played my shots," he concluded.
