From selling panipuri to multi-crore IPL deal: Yashasvi's pursuit of happiness

His is the quintessential rags to riches tale of Thursday's IPL auction but 17-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal, who once sold panipuri to make a living in Mumbai, considers the Rs 2.40 crore deal with Rajasthan Royals a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.

His well-documented struggles include living in a tent after coming to Mumbai from his native Uttar Pradesh as an 11-year-old. That move was triggered by his desire to make a name for himself in cricket.

He has certainly managed to that.

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Jaiswal is currently an under-19 World Cup-bound batsman, ready to represent India in the age-group showpiece in South Africa come to January-February. 

But before that, he has made heads turn by fetching a rather impressive IPL deal. 

"I am very happy. It's a great opportunity for me to learn. I want to learn as much as I can during my time with Rajasthan Royals. It is a platform for me to make a name for myself," Jaiswal said after getting a higher bid than his Under-19 captain Priyam Garg (Rs 1.90 crore, Sunrisers Hyderabad).

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The youngster from Suriya village in Uttar Pradesh has been in stellar form, playing for Mumbai in the domestic season. 

In the prestigious Vijay Hazare Trophy in September-October, he struck 203 off 154 balls, including 12 sixes and 17 boundaries, to become the youngest batsman to hit a double hundred in List A cricket.

He tallied an impressive 564 runs at an average of 112.80 with three hundred and a fifty during this season. 

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