Watch: Emotional Yashasvi Jaiswal dedicates Test ton on debut to parents — 'It's been quite a long journey'

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s incredible journey witnessed a major milestone on Thursday as he brought up a century on his India debut. Jaiswal was on 143 not out at Stumps on Day 2 as India finished on 312/2 and with a lead of 162 runs over West Indies in the first Test at Dominica. IND vs WI: Jaiswal’s patient debut ton helps India surge ahead With his century on debut, Yashasvi became the 17th India batter to score a hundred in his first Test match. He is also the seventh Indian batter and first in 13 years to score a hundred on Test debut away from home.

The opener completed his hundred in the 70th over in 215 balls when his opening partnership with Rohit Sharma had already crossed the 200-run mark. Rohit was dismissed on 103. After the end of the day’s play, the 21-year-old cricketer reflected on his achievement and dedicated his century to his parents.

“Of course, it was very emotional for me, for my family, for all those people who have supported me. It has been quite a long journey. I want to thank everyone who has helped me in any way. I want to dedicate this (century on my Test debut) to my parents, they have a big contribution in my life. God is also there. Don’t want to say much. I am happy. This is just the start, there’s a long way to go,” Jaiswal said in a video uploaded by BCCI. It has been a stupendous rise for Yashasvi Jaiswal who once had to sell street food in Mumbai and sleep in tents in Azad Maidan to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cricketer. Jaiswal also revealed that he was assisted by his conversations with skipper Rohit in the middle with whom he forged an opening partnership of 229. “I spoke a lot to Rohit while batting. He kept explaining to me how to bat on this wicket and where the runs would come. We had very good communication between us. Before the game also, he was talking to me, telling me ‘you have to do it’. So I kept thinking about that and how I should prepare mentally and score runs. So I think I’ve learnt a lot from this game and I’ll try to keep doing that going forward too.” “It makes a lot of difference when experienced players and legends of our team [like Rohit, Virat, Rahane] sit with you, talk to you… It makes a big difference because I keep learning from them,” Jaiswal said. Now Jaiswal has an opportunity to become the first batter to score a double ton on Test debut. “My aim is to give the team a good start [on Day 3]. Besides that, what happens, happens (about 200),” he signed off.