India and Rajasthan Royals batter Yashasvi Jaiswal’s childhood coach Jwala Singh has clarified reports that the cricketer sold pani-puri on the streets of Mumbai during his early cricketing days. In a recent interview, Singh said that Jaiswal did sell pani-puri on occasion, but only to earn some extra money. He added that Jaiswal’s father worked hard to support the family, but there were financial constraints.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal met me in 2013 while staying in Azad Maidan’s tent and didn’t have much financial support,” Jwala Singh said. “Though his father worked very hard to keep the family running, there were certain limits. So, in the Azad Maidan Ground, there would be Pani-Puri trolleys that would turn up and Jaiswal would go in a friendly manner, speak with them and at times sell a few pani-puri’s to earn 20-25 rupees.”
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Jwala Singh also said that a photo and a video of Jaiswal selling pani-puri went viral, but the man in the photo is not Jaiswal’s father.
“In 2018, when he was selected for the U-19’s for the first time, one of the TV channels had approached me, insisting on taking visuals of Jaiswal selling pani-puri,” Singh said. “I was disappointed but the channel requested by saying that it is ‘normal’ and took the visuals anyway.”
Jwala Singh said that he and his family treated Jaiswal like their own child, and they were hurt by the fake stories that were circulated.
“So as per the visuals, media claims that the man next to him is his father, but Jaiswal’s father has come to Mumbai only for work purpose just a few times from 2013 to 2022,” Singh said. “And during this period, Jaiswal has stayed with me and my family. We have never treated him like a student but instead as our own child and given all the facilities. So, watching these fake stories on him selling pani-puri does disappoint me because only a part of it is true. When these types of stories go viral, as a coach and a father-figure, it does hurt.”
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Yashasvi Jaiswal is currently one of the most promising young batsmen in India. He has represented India in the Under-19 World Cup and the Indian Premier League. He is also a regular member of the Rajasthan Royals team.
