Star India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has said that Rohit Sharma’s behaviour towards him ahead of his Test debut gave him a lot of confidence, adding that Rohit asked him to go out and play freely.
For Jaiswal,
memories of his India debut in the West Indies go well beyond the runs he made. What has stayed with him most is the calm reassurance he received from Rohit long before he walked out to play.
In an interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Jaiswal revealed how his conversations with Rohit helped him feel settled and confident ahead of his maiden Test.
“He spoke to me really well. He said a lot of things that gave me a lot of confidence. He kept telling me, ‘You’re free—go out there, play freely, play your shots with confidence,” Jaiswal said.
What stood out was how early Rohit made his intentions clear. During the team’s travel to Dominica, the captain ensured that Jaiswal was aware of his role well in advance.
“Almost fifteen days before, he had already told me. He said, ‘I won’t tell you just one day before that you’re playing. I’m telling you fifteen days in advance—you’re going to play,” Jaiswal said.
That clarity permitted the young batter to take in the moment without any panic.
So the moment I found out that I was going to make my debut, it was a very special moment for me. I had never played for India before, and this was my first time,” Jaiswal said.
The preparation paid off on the field. At just 21, the young batter made a brilliant Test debut in Roseau, scoring 171 against the Windies with remarkable patience, control and maturity.
Two years later, Jaiswal has enjoyed a stellar start to his Test career, playing 28 games and amassing 2,511 runs at an average of 49.23.
