agencies
MUMBAI, May 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal is not the cricketer he has become because he once "sold panipuris" at Azad Maidan but for his sheer hardwork that has pushed him to national reckoning, his childhood coach Jwala Singh, sick of the emotional narrative, said on Monday. Jaiswal, who smashed 124 off 62 balls against Mumbai Indians, is all but certain to make it to the Indian squad for the five-match T20I series in West Indies and the USA in late June-early July. However despite his powerhouse performances in past couple of seasons, always the first thing that is viral on social media is the story that he had to sell panipuris to earn a living in Mumbai. His coach Jwala, who took Jaiswal under his own wings, back in 2013 and the young boy stayed at his residence gets very annoyed when this particular story gets precedence over his cricketing achievements. "I really don't like the story (selling panipuri). He is playing cricket because of hard work," Jwala told PTI during an interaction on Monday. In fact, he did clarify the urban myth that is only getting more traction with each passing day. "Many sellers set up their stalls near the Azad Maidan. Sometimes when he would get free in the evenings, he used to help them a bit. He did not set up a stall himself. It is not that he sold panipuris and went on to play for India," Jwala was cut-throat in dismissing the whole 'sob story'. In fact, Jaiswal's father Bhupendra words still rings in Jwala's ears. "I met his father on December 25, 2013. He told me that I have made a God-like intervention in their lives. "Aap isse jhaadu lagwao, pocha karwao, Bas isko apne sath rakhna aur cricketer banana." (Make him sweep and mop the floor but keep him under your wings and make him a cricketer."). It was as if his parents gave me his power of attorney saying he is completely under you." For better part of last 10 years, Jaiswal has stayed at Jwala's residence with his family. "Since I had a stable life in Mumbai, I treated him like my own son. After 2013, there has been no such incident where he would have had to struggle. I got him him his first bat contract worth Rs 40,000. "I got him those bats which international players would use. There is no angle of poverty here after 2013. Whatever was, was before 2013. Because of these stories, at times, both he and I both get frustrated." Jwala had in fact once sent Jasiwal to England so that he can upgrade his technique.
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