Yash Dayal remained composed under pressure while executing the pivotal last over for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the mustwin IPL 2024 clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday May 18. The leftarm pacers exceptional heroics were instrumental in steering his team towards the playoffs.
Bengaluru had to defend 17 runs in the last over to qualify. Yash Dayal was charged with bowling the all-important over. It began with MS Dhoni smashing a huge 110-meter six.
However, Dayal responded by having Dhoni caught at the leg side boundary on the next delivery. He bowled precise slower deliveries, allowing only one run from the last four balls.
Speaking about the high-octane game, Yash Dayal’s father, Chandarpal, stated that his family quit watching Dayal’s matches after he was struck for five consecutive sixes by Rinku Singh last season.
Chandrapal remarked that he couldn’t resist turning on the television before the last over of the RCB versus CSK match. He stated that he began praying to God when the first ball went for a six, hoping that his kid would not have to go through what he did last year following Rinku’s five sixes.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chandrapal stated:
“I blamed myself for ruining another match for my son (by turning on the television to watch the last over). Dhoni can still tear apart any bowler. I just folded my hands and started praying. ‘Aaj mere bachhe ka saath dena bhagwaan, fir se wo nahi hona chahiye (God, please support my son today. It should not happen again). It felt good the way he held his nerve after the first ball. I enjoyed the winning moment.”
Chandrapal stated that while many had written Yash Dayal off after IPL 2023, he received several phone calls and messages after the bowler led RCB to a memorable victory over CSK.
He added:
“Everyone wrote him off. And today, I am receiving a number of congratulatory calls and messages. Still, no one is talking about his hard work, grind and the way he tackled the pressure. The slower bouncer he has developed, the other variations he has learnt in the last year. The way he has bowled at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where even an edge goes for a six. But it’s fine because in one year, we as a family have realised cricket really is a funny game.”
RCB signed Yash Dayal in the IPL 2024 mini-auction at ₹5 crore. The bowler has returned the team management’s confidence. He is now his team’s highest wicket-taker this season, with 15 wickets in 13 games and an economy rate of 8.94.
Chandrapal Recalls Public Reaction to Yash Dayal’s RCB Selection
Chandrapal also revealed how even individuals they knew insulted and harassed Yash Dayal, prompting them to leave all WhatsApp groups. He recalls someone commenting that Bengaluru had wasted ₹5 crore down the pan by choosing the seamer.
“It never stopped, we as a family, literally quit all WhatsApp groups, barring our family one. Even when RCB picked him in the auction for Rs 5 crore, I remember someone saying ‘Paise naale mei baha aaye Bangalore waale (The franchise threw the money in the drain)’. We live in a world where even if you switch off from social media, you will end up seeing all kinds of stuff.”
“In one of the WhatsApp groups, a person I know shared a meme, mocking Yash for conceding five sixes and I still remember what he wrote with the picture ‘Prayagraj Express ki kahaani shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho gayi (The story of Prayagraj Express got over before it even began).”
Chandrapal
Yash Dayal will be in action on Wednesday, May 22, when RCB face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium.