In a tiny chawl in Mumbai, two brothers shared more than just a roof; they shared a passion for cricket. Tejasvi and Yashasvi Jaiswal spent their childhood playing on dusty streets, dreaming of one day playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. But dreams, they soon learned, don't come cheap.
As the boys grew, so did their talent and their expenses. Cricket kits, coaching fees, and travel costs piled up. Their family's modest means could barely support one player, let alone two. One evening, Tejasvi made a quiet decision. Without drama or complaint, the elder brother packed his bags for Delhi, leaving Mumbai and his cricket dreams behind for Yashasvi.
"I also wanted to play cricket," he said. "But the financial situation of our family was not good. Yashasvi was doing well… so I quit Mumbai and cricket and moved to Delhi," Tejasvi told The Indian Express.
In Delhi, Tejasvi's life became very different. While Yashasvi trained under Mumbai's bright lights, Tejasvi worked long hours at a shop, selling fancy lamps to customers. His hands, once used to holding cricket bats, now handled bills and cash. But every month, without fail, a portion of his earnings found its way to Mumbai to buy better equipment and get better coaching for his brother.
Meanwhile, whispers about "age fraud" threatened to derail even Tejasvi's distant hopes of playing. Instead of fighting, he stepped further back, not wanting any shadow to fall on Yashasvi's rising career.
Years rolled by. Yashasvi became a national sensation, his bat scoring runs and breaking records. The world cheered for the young prodigy. Few remembered the brother who made it all possible until 2023, when Tejasvi quietly walked onto a cricket field again, this time representing Tripura state.
The boy who once gave up his dream was now living it, not as a charity case but as a player who earned his place. His runs that season weren't just numbers on a scoreboard; they were proof that dreams come true.
Today, one of the Jaiswal brothers wears India's colours with pride. The other wears something equally valuable, the quiet satisfaction of knowing that sometimes, the greatest victories don't come from personal glory, but from seeing someone you love succeed.
And when life gave Tejasvi his long-delayed chance? He grabbed it with the same spirit that once made him let go. Because true champions understand that what matters most isn't who gets the spotlight but who keeps the dream alive.
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