‘Helps me improve my mental toughness’ – Yashasvi Jaiswal highlights importance of playing red-ball cricket

Team India and Rajasthan Royals batter Yashasvi Jaiswal highlighted the importance of playing in the longer format, as he stated that it helps him improve his ‘mental toughness’. Notably, the batter is riding high on the back of a magnificent IPL 2023 season, wherein he registered 625 runs at an average of 48.08, featuring five fifties and a ton.

Despite growing up, watching the IPL and garnering massive limelight for his recent batting exploits in the competition, Yashasvi expressed that the impact of red-ball cricket and that he relishes playing in the particular format. 

“For me, it’s very important, because I was always playing with the red ball. I really enjoyed it. Mumbai cricket has that legacy that wherever you are playing, even if it is school cricket or club cricket, there are games that go on for three, four or five days. You hear people are scoring more runs in those games,” Yashasvi was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“Playing the longer format helps me improve my mental toughness which is really important because you are going to be tested in different situations against different bowlers. It’s a lot of fun,” he added.

If I’m set, I take the responsibility for the team: Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi reiterated his stance and added that he likes to take the onus of owning the responsibility, once he settles in the middle.

“When I played school cricket, I used to think that whenever I get set, I’d try to go for a big score because that was inculcated in me from Mumbai cricket. I’d always say to myself that if I’m set, make sure that I’m making it big and taking responsibility for the team. That’s why we enjoy red ball cricket a lot,” he concluded.

Jaiswal will be seen in action in team India’s forthcoming tour of West Indies as he has been included in the Test squad. India will play two Testsagainst the Windies, scheduled to commence on July 12.