From Street Vendor to Cricket Star: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Story of Grit, Dreams, and Mindset
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s journey from selling pani puri in Mumbai’s lanes to opening for Team India is anything but ordinary. In this honest and lively conversation, he opens up about early struggles, chasing dreams, believing in himself, and what really keeps him going. It’s a look at fame and cricket from a very human perspective — one that’s raw, sometimes downright funny, and never sugar-coated.
Key Takeaways
- Unshakeable self-belief is Jaiswal's anchor, even when people doubted his abilities.
- Visualisation and routine help him stay focused, especially during crunch matches.
- Cricket isn’t just glamour — it’s about discipline, sacrifice, and mental strength.
- Jaiswal’s mindset is grounded in learning from failures, bouncing back, and always putting the team first.
- He balances aggression on-field with humility and personal growth off-field.
The Humble Beginnings
Life wasn’t cushy when Yashasvi was growing up. His family had little, and cricket seemed like a far-off dream. His dad, crazy about the game, passed on the love — but couldn’t offer much else in terms of resources. At just 11, Yashasvi left for Mumbai, lived in tents, did odd jobs (yes, selling pani puri after practice was just one of them), and focused on nothing except performance.
He didn’t tell his family about all the hard bits. As he puts it, “Why bother them? I only told them I was playing well.”
Little Jobs, Big Lessons
Here's what he did to keep things afloat:
- Sold pani puri near the grounds
- Did whatever odd jobs he could after cricket practice
- Lived with other struggling players, making instant surrogate families
But for him, no work was small. “Just do the job well, that’s what matters,” he says.
Visualising Success: The Secret Sauce
Yashasvi started visualising himself playing for India from the moment he began. He’d go to bed seeing himself bat in packed stadiums, hearing crowds chant his name, and picturing every little detail as if it was real. It wasn’t just wishful thinking:
- He kept a diary every year, scribbling down dreams.
- Practised meditation and self-talk, building mental muscle before anyone else believed in him.
- Used setbacks as fuel — the phrase "I will do it" became his north star.
This habit helped him manage nerves during big moments, like his Test debut (he couldn’t sleep that night but decided to enjoy the feeling and play anyway!).
Handling Criticism, Aggression, and Those Tough Days
From Mumbai’s streets to Team India, nothing came easy. People doubted him. Some called him unsuitable, said he wouldn’t last. Did it hurt? Of course. But it made his drive even sharper.
Yashasvi talks a lot about aggression — unavoidable, he thinks, for any player at the top. That burst of belief on the field (“I’m here to win, give me your best ball.”) is not arrogance, but a mindset that separates the top 1% from the rest.
But there’s a line: confidence means "I can do it." Over-confidence? Not so helpful. He’s always careful to keep both in check.
Lessons From The Greats and Teammates
Some of his best advice comes from senior players:
| Player | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | Every bowler gives a hint—watch carefully, read body language. |
| Rahul Dravid | Focus on watching the ball, not internal noise. |
| Gautam Gambhir | Trust your preparation, especially for tricky conditions like Australia. |
Team India's environment, he says, is competitive but caring. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, for example, is gentle and supportive rather than strict.
Practice, Routine, Distractions & Cricket Nerdiness
A typical day? Up at 6:30 or 7am. Meditation. Hours of practice, tailored to the game format (Test, T20, ODI). Sometimes it’s playing chess at home or inventing crazy rules in gully cricket with family and friends. The simple things matter. If he’s out of town, he enjoys nature—mountains, oceans—or just being with family. Fame, parties, and the "glam" side rarely draw him in.
Relationships, potential distractions? He’s candid — they’re not distractions at all, as long as they’re genuine. You make time for what matters.
Bouncing Back From Failure
After every bad game, Yashasvi goes back to basics. Talks to experienced players, figures out what’s next, and never lets one match define his mood for long. If he’s dropped from a team? Out of his hands. He just focuses on improvement.
What Separates the Good From the Best?
He’s convinced it’s not just skill. Jaiswal says the difference between a player in the local ground and someone on the Indian squad comes down to experience, hunger, and how you chase dreams — not just talent or effort. That relentless drive, and the mental strength to keep learning, is what he thinks makes a player special.
Staying Grounded
Despite everything, Yashasvi is prouder of being a good son and a decent human than he is of his cricket achievements. Giving his family a better life, seeing fans happy because of his game — that’s what gives him real goosebumps.
His advice? Keep going. Keep visualising, keep believing, and above all — live in the present. If he can make it from nothing, he believes anyone can, if they don’t quit.
