Runs, runs and more runs keep Armaan Jaffer ticking

For the 17-year-old Armaan Jaffer, life on either side of the Under-19 World Cup was not short of drama. Yet another quintessential prospect emerging from the reputed batting capital of the country - Mumbai - had his task cut out in the months leading up to the showpiece event in Bangladesh.

After an average showing in the inaugural Under-19 challenger Trophy in October 2015, Jaffer was overlooked by the India Under-19 selectors. "It was very tough for me. I was disappointed a bit then. After the team was out, I had only one chance to make my comeback and that was the Cooch Behar Trophy," he says.

Down but certainly not out, Jaffer put his head down and got to work. With ample guidance from Kalim Jaffer, his father and Vinod Raghavan, the Mumbai Under-19 coach, his quest to turn his fortunes around began. Between October 31 and December 22, when the Indian squad for the Under-19 World Cup was announced, Jaffer smashed 1018 runs at an astonishing average of 169.16, a batting masterclass that included three double centuries in the Cooch Behar Trophy. The sheer volume of runs earned the youngster a ticket to Bangladesh but even as he amassed massive scores, the pressure on him kept mounting.

"It was really tough. When I scored the second double hundred, I was on the ground and the team was out (for Sri Lanka series). I saw the team. I was really disappointed that after scoring two double hundreds, and before the two double hundreds, I scored a 180 as well.

"So it was really disappointed after that selection. I was expecting a call for that tour at least. I was really disappointed after that. But had no option, so again scored a double hundred," he says.

All of 17, Jaffer also had the chance to bide his time and push for his selection for the next edition of the tournament in 2018 but he wasn't thinking too far ahead. In his mind, it was now or never.

"There was no next-time scene. I had to come into the World Cup this time only. So I was thinking the since I haven't made the team, I have to make runs and make a comeback. Looking back wasn't an option," he puts it simply.

The Rahul Dravid Factor

After two months of exceptional hard work and dedication, Jaffer was one amongst Ishan Kishan's squad that was excellently marshalled by Rahul Dravid, the head coach. The former India skipper, who was also handed the responsibility of the India A side in 2015, has maintained that for both the teams, any tournament will be about making the most of opportunities and making forward strikes.

For the players of the A team, it was about showcasing consistency and pushing for a spot in the senior team and for the Colts, it was about soaking in the pressure of playing at the highest level, revelling in it and laying foundations to build a strong first-class career before knocking on Team India's doors.

Batting at No. 5 and 6 throughout the showpiece event, where India finished runners-up, Jaffer didn't light up the tournament by showcasing his appetite for big scores but key contributions that he is content with.

"It was a good tournament for me. I contributed to the team which was very good I feel. Whatever chances I got, I contributed for the team," he explains.

He shone through his few vital contributions, notably his 64 against Namibia in the quarterfinal clash, and the Kishan-led side advanced to what was India's fifth final in the tournament. The pressure of upholding the legacy of previous victors like Mohammad Kaif (2000), Virat Kohli (2008) and Unmukt Chand (2014) and the big occasion was bound to get to the tyros but Dravid found a way to ease it all, on the eve of the final.

"Before the final, in the meeting we had, he said that there are more bigger occasions in your life to come and this is not the biggest occasion for you all. That was really nice of him that, he was easing the pressure of the final.

"He was telling that I hope you all play a Test match at Lord's, a Boxing Day Test match. That will be the bigger occasion and this is not the biggest occasion of your life. So play your natural cricket," Jaffer reveals.

India eventually finished second-best to West Indies and the emotions ran high all around. World Cup at the junior level is the path to success, rather than the final destination, but, succumbing at the final hurdle was always bound to hurt. There were a lot of tears before Dravid swooped in again to lift their spirits."We were sitting in the dressing room. Everyone in the team was crying so he just came to everyone, patted our back. Called everyone, made a huddle and told us that disappointment will come your way. You have to handle it. And if disappointments are not there, you will not proceed further."There should be disappointments. You should feel that, you should feel the pain. Only then will you improve. He said that he also lost the World Cup in 2003, that was also an experience," Jaffer revealed.As the head coach of young, impressionable minds, Dravid went the extra mile, patted each of them on their backs for their commendable efforts and left them with great life lessons in one-on-one conversations."The message to me was that 'be humble, be down to earth as you are (now).' He was more focussed on how we become as human beings. Just (kept) telling us every time that, 'be focussed'. Don't lose your focus and be relaxed.IPL and The Road AheadJaffer returned to his Mumbai Under-23 side after a successful World Cup and swiftly got back into his run-making mode in the CK Nayudu Trophy. Batting at his preferred position of No. 4 again, Jaffer scored a superb 181 in the drawn semifinal against Maharashtra Under-23 and has also notched up 60 in the final against Madhya Pradesh.While classical batting his been his mainstay, the youngster, with an IPL contract worth INR 10 lakh with Kings XI Punjab, will also need to add a new dimension to his batting, if he has to attract the attention of several selectors during the T20 tournament. Jaffer is aware of the need to beef up his batting skills and is already thinking of ways to maximize any chance that comes his way during his first season with the Punjab franchise."I am thinking about it (IPL) as a big platform. Playing with senior cricketers, getting an experience with them will be wonderful for me, when I join them. Not only from my team, from the other team, from rival teams as well I will try to take as much as possible to improve my cricket."After this match (CK Nayudu final) is over, I go to Goa where there are T20 matches. I am playing for Indian Oil. So I will try to practice there a lot. I will try to improve a lot. Then there will also be an IPL camp where I will try and learn as much as possible,"he says.As of today, a World Cup finalist medal sits pretty at his residence, an enviable record of three successive double centuries in the Cooch Behar Trophy is associated with his name and, come April, a massive new world of opportunities will welcome him with open arms.The 17-year-old has done exceptionally well to turn things around for himself in the last six months, that should allow him the luxury of putting his feet up and basking in recent glory. But Jaffer, through his constant struggles, is fully aware of the fact that more success bring along even bigger challenges, the first of which is to break into Mumbai's Ranji Trophy side."My next target is to play for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy. I have not made my first-class debut yet. And probably the ultimate goal for every cricketer is to play for the senior team. The next step, I should represent my state in Ranji Trophy," he signs off.