Yashasvi Jaiswal: It was an emotional moment for me

Debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal made the headlines when he scored a Test ton on the second day’s play of the first Test between West Indies and India.

Jaiswal was a late inclusion for Ruturaj Gaikwad in India’s standby squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final. He earned his first Test cap on Wednesday and became India’s 17th player to score a century on Test debut.  

The young left-handed opener described his century as an “emotional moment”, but doesn’t want to settle for just a century as he aims “to play for as long as possible.”

"My effort [on the third day] will just be on how I can give a good start to the team. I will just focus on my process and trust on what I have practiced. I just have to go and keep playing," he said.

“This is just the start of my career, so now it will be about how focused and disciplined I can be going forward."

Talking about his preparations, Jaiswal said, "I think it's about how I prepare mentally. Of course, fitness is very important. I try to follow my diet and discipline and try to stay in good shape. And I practice the way I need to prepare. I keep trying to bat according to possible scenarios and how I can do well on the team. The effort is to just try and play match-winning knocks.

"I spoke to Rohit quite a bit while batting. He kept telling me how we can play on this wicket and where the runs can come from. And even before the game, the way he told me 'you have to do it, you are the only person', I kept thinking about that and how I can get my runs."

India's first innings will resume on 312 for two on Friday. Debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal will resume on 143 not out. Virat Kohli will resume on 36 not out.