Jab Yashasvi met Dhoni!

When Rajasthan Royals take on Chennai Super Kings in an IPL 2020 match on Tuesday (September 22), all eyes will be on Yashasvi Jaiswal, who could get a place in the starting XI of the Royals.

If he indeed manages that, it will be a remarkable tale of turnaround for this India U-19 star, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the last IPL auction for Rs 2.4 crores.

Jaiswal won hearts on social media when the live cameras captured the moment he met MS Dhoni on the field.

Dhoni and Smith has just walked off the centre after the toss and as both players spoke to other cricketers, Jaiswal was seen walking up to Dhoni with a smile. When the former Indian skipper look at the 18-year-old, he greeted him with folded hands. A gesture that is being appreciated by many.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is a son of a shopkeeper from Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh. He left home at the age of nine because all he wanted to do was play cricket.

Without a roof over his head and no money in his pocket, he landed in Mumbai. His father had spoken to him about his uncle (Santosh), who lived in Mumbai. Yashasvi managed to reach Santosh’s place, but could not stay there for long as it was a one-room tin shed.

From selling panipuri to becoming the ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the 2020 U-19 World Cup, Yashasvi has come a long way. Impressed by his extraordinary batting skills.

Jaiswal was highly rated in the domestic circuit before the U19 World Cup as well, most prominently scoring a double hundred for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year. It made him the youngest to get to the mark in 50-over cricket. The fact that he sold pani puris to make ends meet before making it in domestic cricket has only enhanced his reputation.