Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal gets India call ahead of Bangladesh Test series. What makes Yash Dayal special and how he earned his place?
One and a half years ago, a left-arm pacer in the jersey of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was hiding his face with a towel after his dear friend and opponent in the marquee tournament, Rinku Singh, hit him for five consecutive sixes in an over. On September 8, the same Yash Dayal received a maiden Test call-up as India announced their squad for the first match against Bangladesh. The tale of redemption is nothing sort of a dream story.
At the tender age of six, Yash Dayal’s future in cricket seemed sealed for his father, Chandrapal Dayal, when he saw his son picking up a cricket ball and practising. As Yash grew older, his potential became increasingly apparent. By the time he turned 12, he started bowling with his left hand and later learnt the art of swinging the ball both ways, delivering a bouncer, and maintaining impeccable line and length.
Early Promise and Breakthrough
By the age of 14, Yash’s cricketing journey had leapt forward. He was already training with the Uttar Pradesh U-19 team. However, the exact timing and manner of his breakthrough remained uncertain. It wasn’t until Yash was 20 that he made his debut in the List A format with the Uttar Pradesh team during the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He finished as Uttar Pradesh’s third-highest wicket-taker with thirty wickets at an average of 24.70.
The T20 Breakthrough
Yash’s entry into T20 cricket came in 2019 with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). His first T20 season saw him claim nine wickets at an average of 19.9. In the 2021 SMAT, he took only four wickets, but it was the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy that truly highlighted his prowess. With 21 wickets at an economy rate of 4.4 and an average of 19.1, Yash proved himself a formidable force in white-ball cricket.
The IPL Breakthrough and Setback
The 2022 IPL auction marked a significant milestone for Yash Dayal, as he was acquired by GT for INR 3.2 crores. Under the mentorship of Ashish Nehra, Yash had a decent season, taking eleven wickets and garnering praise for his performances. However, the 2023 season brought a major challenge. A harrowing moment came when he conceded five consecutive sixes in the final over against Rinku Singh. This incident took a toll on him and his family, leading to a period of personal and professional struggle, including weight loss and a battle with viral fever.
The Resurgence
Despite the setbacks, Yash's resilience shone through. The IPL 2024 Auction saw him secure an INR 5 crore contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His performances were stellar, taking 15 wickets with a best figure of 3/20. He played a crucial role in RCB’s turnaround from the lower half of the table to the knockout stages. Yash’s impressive display continued with India B in the Duleep Trophy 2024, where he earned recognition with four wickets against India A.
And finally, the young man has been awarded the prize for his constant shining, barring all the odds that came his way.
How did Yash Dayal pip Khaleel and Arshdeep?
Yash Dayal is surely among the new faces in the 16-man squad for the first Test. Eyebrows have been raised as to how it is that Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh were ignored. Arshdeep was seen to be in line for making his Test debut, having established himself in the shorter formats and being an integral part of India’s team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
It was a close contest between the three players, but the fact that Dayal is also more experienced in long-form cricket than Arshdeep or Khaleel went in his favour. Dayal has played 23 first-class games thus far. Khaleel and Arshdeep, on the other hand, have played 13 and 17 matches, respectively.
Bowler | Mat | Inns | Wkts | Ave | Eco | SR | 5w/10w |
Arshdeep Singh | 17 | 30 | 51 | 32.01 | 3.18 | 60.2 | 1/0 |
Yash Dayal | 23 | 42 | 72 | 29.26 | 2.97 | 58.9 | 1/0 |
Khaleel Ahmed | 13 | 15 | 30 | 33.26 | 2.98 | 66.83 | 0/0 |
Also, according to a report in the Indian Express, Yash surpassed Khaleel after performing impressively well in the recent India A vs India B match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Khaleel finished with figures of 2-54 and 3-69 in the match, while Dayal had figures of 1-39 and 3-50, but Khaleel lacked consistency and was more expensive.
Recent performances often have a telling impact in selection meetings, and this is where Yash scored. In the first-round Duleep Trophy game, he hit the ball in the right areas and bowled with good control to send back Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel in quick succession.
The Way Ahead
As the ‘voice of cricket’ Harsha Bhogle states, “Our great game always gives a second chance to people, and I am overjoyed for Yash Dayal. To recover from that first ball six to nail those slower ones is outstanding,” the redemption of Yash has been an amazing tale to witness. He is one of the most disciplined bowlers in the Indian circuit and has only grown with time.
It is uncertain if Yash’s assignment with Team India will go a long way or not. But he can surely be that one left-arm pacer India would hope for seeing his recent forms and ability to swing the ball both ways whilst hitting accurate bouncers.
Yash Dayal’s selection for the Bangladesh series highlights his perseverance and skill. The competition with other left-arm pacers was tough, but Dayal’s journey shows that hard work and determination can lead to success.
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