‘Plan is to win and dominate every session’ - Jaiswal ahead of Ranji final

Mumbai’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who struck twin centuries in the semi-finals against Uttar Pradesh to propel his side into its first Ranji final in six years, revealed that he is a ‘more confident’ batter now and asserted that the entire Mumbai team is ‘really excited’ to feature in the final, the plan being to win and dominate every session. 

Jaiswal played his first game of the season only in the quarter-finals, but the youngster already has three centuries to his name, two of them coming in the all-important semi-finals against Uttar Pradesh. The southpaw struck 100 and 181, and his twin tons helped Mumbai book a spot in the final by virtue of first-innings lead.

Speaking ahead of the final, which will commence on June 22nd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Jaiswal expressed his pleasure in being able to contribute in a big win, and attested that he hopes to do the same in the final.

“I am more confident now. The semifinal match was a big challenge and I wanted to accept it and deliver in style. I am really happy that I managed to contribute to my team in a big way. I am looking forward to the final now. The Mumbai team is really excited. We all follow the same process. The plan is to fight and win and dominate every session,” Jaiswal told TOI.

The third innings of the semi-final clash saw Jaiswal post his highest ever first-class score (181) but something curious happened in that innings: the 20-year–old took 54 balls to get off the mark. In fact, by the time Jaiswal got off the mark, his opening partner Prithvi Shaw had raced to a half-century.

When asked why he decided to do what he did, the youngster revealed that he wanted to stay in the middle for as long as possible to deny UP an entry back into the contest.

“I just wanted to stay in the middle for as long as possible. That's what my team needed at the moment. With one or two more wickets, the game would have slipped out of our hands. So, patience was the key. I was taking it one ball at a time, giving myself a lot of time to settle in, watching the pitch, analysing it. 

“Once I got off the mark, I shifted gears. I knew a new ball could get me out if I don't leave the ball. They were bowling in good areas. The plan was to leave deliveries outside the off stump and play the deliveries coming into the stumps. I just don't want to leave my team stranded in the middle, I want to be a good finisher for my team,” Jaiswal said.

The 20-year-old rued getting out so close to a double hundred, but asserted that all his focus now is on the final. Jaiswal revealed that he is at a point now where he trusts his game and ability.

“I think I could have scored more, maybe 200. But that's fine. I am happy with my performance and the team's show in the semis. I am focusing on the final now. I want to carry on the momentum in the big match. I worked hard and worked on certain shots and techniques. With time, I have gained a lot of confidence. I trust my game and abilities.”

Mumbai last won the Ranji Trophy in the 2015/16 season