Stepping out of his comfort zone in Bhadohi, spending his early teens in the Azad Maidan tent and working hard in Maximum City for nearly a decade, India Cap was not everything to Yashasvi Jaiswal, but the only thing he aspired to. It was never about how he will get there, but when the coveted news broke on Friday afternoon, there was as much emotion as elation for the stylish southpaw. The young batsman told PTI in an exclusive interview late Friday that he was both nervous and excited about the possibility of his call-up to the Indian Test side, a dream that came true earlier in the day.
“My dad started crying (when he got to know it). I haven’t met my mom yet; I’m going to visit her sometime. I was out this morning, had a practice session and some other work,” said Jaiswal, adding that he might be going to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore in a few days for West Indies tour preparations.
Having recently returned to his home here in Mumbai, Jaiswal revealed he had a busy day on Friday, as he was out for a training session followed by a shoot – which is when he learned about his Indian selection.
Jaiswal, 21, who brightened up this year’s Indian Premier League with sensational at bats that followed dominant performances with the red ball in the domestic circuit, received his first call-up to the Indian Test team on Friday afternoon.
Jaiswal was among the reserve players for the World Test Championship final earlier this month and a call-up to the West Indies tour for two Tests was only inevitable after proving himself in a variety of formats.
“I feel good, I will do my best,” said Jaiswal.
“I’m excited, but at the same time I just want to go out and express myself,” he added.
Jaiswal said he was nervous until the moment he got to see his name in the squad announced by the BCCI.
“I was a little nervous, until the time you don’t find out your name is on the team, there are butterflies. But it’s a good feeling.” “My preparations went well and I had a lot of contact with the older players. The conversation was very simple: focus on my work. I learned from them that in the end it’s all about you, how you do it.” it is moving forward,” said Jaiswal, adding that he has been in close contact with India captain Rohit Sharma and other senior players in Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
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