When Yashasvi Jasiwal walked out to bat in the U-19 World Cup final vs Bangladesh, he would have been dreaming of being part of the side to win the trophy at the end of the day. Sadly, it was not to be as Bangladesh won by 3 wickets to lift their first title. But all this does not in anyway diminish the contribution of Yashasvi to Team India nor does it hide the fact that this World Cup belonged to him.
In the final the young man made 88. In fact he was the only one from the Boys in Blue to show any kind of resistance. His dismissal saw us slip from 156/3 to 177 all out. The game was half lost from there. But while he was at the crease, we knew we always had a chance.?
Not that it should come as a surprise. Even before the tournament started, Yashasvi came with a reputation of being a good opening batsman. His tournament stats confirmed what we only already knew, a gifted player with the potential to make it big. 400 runs in 6 innings with 4 fifties and 1 century pretty much sums it up. He averaged 133.33 and finished as the tournament's top run-getter.?
The only time Yashasvi did not reach 50 was against Japan and that was because we only had to score 42 to win. In every other game he was consistent with the willow. The most tested innings would be his 62 in the quarters vs Australia, the one team that really put India under pressure on the field. Of course the knock to remember was the 105 not out vs Pakistan in the semis. He won the game and reached his hundred with a six to take us within striking distance of a 5th title. While it was not the ending he would have wanted, let there be no doubt that we are seeing a star being born and a player coming of age.?
Of course the transition from a boy to man, in cricket and life, does not come overnight. Yashasvi has a long way to go before one can see him part of the senior side. After all, that's a different ballgame. But do not be surprised if we do see him representing the Men in Blue in a couple of years. He may have a lot left to do to make it that far, but the youngster is on the right track.?
The Under-19 World Cup may not have come home with the defending champions, but the tournament was certainly owned by Yashasvi in every possible way. ??