Yashasvi Jaiswal eyes best IPL season after strong start

With 125 runs in three matches at 41.66 including two half-centuries, Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has made his best start yet to the IPL, in the company of England giant Jos Buttler, from whom the youngster is learning more than just cricket. Jaiswal, who managed totals around 250 each in the last two editions, seems well-placed to have his finest IPL yet with the bat, which follows a successful run in domestic cricket. The left-handed batter made 315 runs at 45 from five Ranji Trophy games with a highest of 162 and smacked 213 for the Rest of India against Madhya Pradesh in the Irani Cup in early March this year. Jaiswal told PTI in an exclusive interview that successful run in domestic cricket has helped him make a strong start to the IPL. ”One hundred per cent, it gives me amazing (amount of) confidence of playing in different conditions and situations. I have been in different situations so many times and I have drawn confidence from it to go out there and express myself,” he said. The presence of Buttler in the RR camp and his relationship with such a senior figure, England’s captain in limited-overs cricket, has had a strong impact on the 21-year-old. ”In the powerplay, as Jos bhai always says, we have to have good intent and cricketing shots. I just try and follow that. I keep learning (a lot) from him, different shots and (having) different mindsets which has really helped me to improve my game as a player,” he said. ”Also, seeing him outside of the game, how he goes about (in his life), what he does. I learn from all that and put it in my lifestyle too to improve my career,” Jaiswal added.