“She is called ‘Joe’ SSL”: How did the mentorship of the root in Rajasthan Royals shape Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, has shed light on a heartwarming mentorship story that unfolded quietly during IPL 2023. Sangakkara claimed that England’s Joe Root played a crucial role in shaping India’s rising star, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both Jaiswal and Root are currently going head-to-head in the ongoing England vs India Test series, with Jaiswal continuing his march against the Three Lions.

How Root shaped Yashasvi Jaiswal

Root, who featured in just three games for the Royals, left a lasting impression off the field. According to Sangakkara, Jaiswal was inseparable from the England batter during their time in the camp. Speaking to Sky Sports, Sangakkara revealed, “We had Joe Root at Rajasthan Royals, and we used to call Jaiswal ‘Joeswal’, because he never left Joe’s side and was soaking up everything.”

Jaiswal, who had debuted in IPL 2020, exploded in 2023 with 625 runs in 14 matches, including a century — a breakthrough season that paved his way into India’s Test team as well. He’s now an all-format opener (just waiting for explode in 50 overs).

It wasn’t just cricketing technique that Jaiswal absorbed. Sangakkara highlighted heir interactions, saying, “They weren’t just talking T20 – they discussed everything from cricket to life. Jaiswal would sit beside Joe for about four hours every night, either peppering him with questions or listening intently.”

Now a fixture in India’s Test side, Jaiswal continues to dominate on the international stage. In the ongoing second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Birmingham, he scored a fluent 87 as India posted 587. Root, too, remains steady at the crease with 18* as England ended Day 2 on 77/3.