Yashasvi Jaiswal ready to be ‘patient’ for India call-up amid incredible IPL 2023 run: ‘Bhagwan ho jaye’

Rajasthan Royals(RR) in-form batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has said he is ready to be patient for an India call-up amid his incredible run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

Jaiswal has smashed 575 runs in 12 matches at an average of 52.27 and strike-rate of 167.15. He is currently the second leading scorer in the IPL 2023, but is just a run behind leader Faf du Plessis.

Speaking after scoring a fabulous 98 off 47 balls for RR on Thursday against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Jaiswal admitted that he is praying to the almighty for a maiden call-up from Team India. Jaiswal’s sublime form is one of the reasons behind RR’s success so far this season as last year’s finalists are third in the IPL 2023 table with 12 points from 12 matches.

"I think I just need to focus on my game, my process. Whatever will come in my destiny it will come and whatever god has planned for me, I just believe that will happen. I need to control what I can control. Of course, I have this in my mind always from the start when I started playing cricket that someday I will wear that jersey but it's okay I am patient, I will keep trying, wherever it will come. I just need to do what I do, I also pray someday, bhagwan ho jaye," Jaiswal said while speaking to IPL broadcasters JioCinema on Thursday.

In reply to KKR’s 149, RR lost their first wicket in their second over as Jos Buttler was run out. From there on, Jaiswal took charge of RR’s chase, while he received ample support from his skipper Sanju Samson. The two said batters built a 121-run stand as RR sealed the game with nine wickets to spare in 13.1 overs at Eden Gardens.

Jaiswal: Net run-rate was on my mind, not century

Jaiswal beat KL Rahul’s long-standing record of the fastest IPL fifty as the RR batter reached the 50-run mark in just 13 balls, three fewer than the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain. Jaiswal, who missed out on a deserving ton by just two runs, struck 13 fours and five sixes in what turned out to be his fourth half-century of IPL 2023. Had Jaiswal reached the three-digit score, it would have been his second hundred of this season.

At the post-match presentation when Jaiswal was asked if he felt he could have clinched a century against KKR, the opening batsman replied,” I think the net run rate was the only thing in our mind, me and Sanju were only talking about finishing the game quickly.”

“This is always in my mind, to go out there and play well. It was a nice feeling today. It is not like everything I wanted happens, I prepare well and I trust in myself. I know the results will come. The winning shot was a great feeling, I wanted to finish the game and winning the game has been my motto. I'm blessed and grateful, I'm trying my best,” added Jaiswal.

On Buttler’s run-out, Jaiswal said,”I think it happens in the game, it gives me responsibility to do even better. And Sanju bhai came and said to keep playing my game, and not think about that run out. I'm just grateful for a tournament like the IPL where youngsters like me can come and perform. This has been a great platform for players like me to fulfill my dreams.”