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A 17-year-old inspirational story, from selling paani puri to double century!

By:  Tupaki Desk   |   18 Oct 2019 1:03 PM GMT
A 17-year-old inspirational story, from selling paani puri to double century!
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Seventeen-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal became the youngest man to hit a List A double-century, finishing with 203 in 154 balls against Jharkhand in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Jaiswal has been in fine form in the tournament, scoring 113 and 122 against Kerala and Goa respectively. The opener made it the ninth instance of an Indian scoring a List A double-ton. Jaiswal first came in the spotlight during the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dhaka in October last year, when he scored a 113-ball 85 in the final as India beat Sri Lanka by 144 runs.

There is a heart touching story behind the success, He was eleven years old and dream of becoming the cricketer. Jaiswal used to sleep at a dairy shop until the owner threw him away, he lived with Azad Maizan groundsmen in Mumbai. Yashasvi's father was a shopkeeper in UP, but the boy had to move to Mumbai to pursue his dreams. It was his uncle who requested groundsmen if the boy could stay in the tent along with them.

"I was staying in a tent alright, but I had no money to buy food. So, I started selling paani puri during Ram Leela. I also did the scoring, became a ball boy even when I was not asked. Basically, I did everything through which I could earn money," Yashasvi said.

"I would miss my family and would cry. It was not just being homesick but going to the toilet was a hindrance to sleep. There was no toilet at the maidan, and the one near Fashion Street that I used was closed at night," he says.

I remember the days when I was almost shameless. I used to go with my teammates for lunch, knowing that I didn't have any money. I would tell them, 'paisa nahi hai, bhook hai',' he added.