Yashasvi Jaiswal scripts history in India’s quarter-final win over Nepal at Asian Games

India's Yashasvi Jaiswal scores a century in 48 balls against Nepal in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games.

Yashasvi Jaiswal scripts history in India’s quarter-final win over Nepal at Asian Games

Yashasvi Jaiswal (Image via Sony Sports Network)

Who would have thought a record would be smashed, that, too, in T20 cricket at the Asian Games in Hangzhou? On Tuesday, even as some cricket fans in India were yet to wake up from deep slumber, Yashasvi Jaiswal put on a debonair performance to smash a ton against Nepal in the opening match. It also ensured India are through to the semi-finals.

Agreed, this was not a top team of global cricket competing against India. Yet, if one looks at the standard of cricket that the West Indies play today, Nepal matters.
This was instant cricket in the morning, not under the usual arc lights. At 21 years, nine months, and 13 days, Jaiswal was the marauder in T20 turbo mode. This was his maiden ton, yet he had eclipsed many previous record-setters from India, which included Shubman Gill. Gill’s record against New Zealand was at the age of 23 years and 146 days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPpmw6p1bMM

“I don’t think of personal milestones, I always think about scoring with a high strike rate for the team,” said Jaiswal after the match. The way cricket has seen thick action in the Asian Games, there have been surprises. A day before, VVS Laxman had spoken of how Asian Games and medals are important. Who would have thought a turbo-charged knock would come from Yashasvi, whose style is aggressive to the core?

In the morning, it may have looked like his knock was against a weak team, but Nepal did fight as hard as they could. This was not like the Indian women versus Sri Lanka in the final at the Asian Games last week.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes the youngest Indian centurion in T20I history

For cricket to be played in a campus environment, the Pingfeng Campus in Hangzhou may be odd. Yet, Jaiswal used whatever opportunity he got to launch himself in a cavalier fashion. He has creativity in his play as well, though when one talks of boundaries and sixes and a strike rate of 200 plus, Jaiswal sets the pulse racing. For the record, centurions from India in T20 internationals include Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda and Suresh Raina.

Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal (Image via Sony Sports Network)

Just to jog the readers’ memory, the way Jaiswal performed in the West Indies tour across three formats, Tests, ODIs and T20 set him apart. It was sheer bad luck that when the BCCI selectors met for the World Cup, Jaiswal was already being considered only for the Asian Games.

Many batters in Team India for the World Cup have been picked on past performances. Yet, if the most recent performances and being in Nick counts, Jaiswal is a rock star. He played in the West Indies with great application in a tour where the big boys like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli treated it like a holiday mode!

In cricket, there is a phrase, grabbing the chance. Agreed, the real cricket season with the ICC World Cup set to begin in a few days is in India. But how does one discount an innings of such strength where Yashasvi Jaiswal yet again showed temperament?

The kind of batting form which he has shown is phenomenal. Right from the Indian Premier League this summer, where he rocked for Rajasthan Royals to showing his skills in the West Indies, 21-year-old Jaiswal has been a trendsetter of sorts. Earlier stories on him revolved around his poor financial background and so on from Uttar Pradesh. Now, he makes other batters look poor with his smashing success.

Had he been part of some other nation, he would have definitely broken into the national team for the World Cup. Just bad luck for Jaiswal. He has age on his side, the key will be to maintain the momentum.

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