"Mere bachhe ka saath dena bhagwaan, fir se wo nahi hona chahiye" - Yash Dayal's father opens up on RCB vs CSK last over drama in IPL 2024
Yash Dayal showed exemplary composure under pressure while bowling the crucial last over of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) must-win IPL 2024 clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday, May 18. The left-arm pacer's heroics helped his team advance to the playoffs.
Bengaluru needed to defend 17 runs in the final over to qualify. Dayal was tasked with the responsibility of bowling the all-important over. It started with MS Dhoni hitting a massive 110m six.
However, Dayal bounced back by getting Dhoni caught at the leg side boundary on the subsequent delivery. He bowled accurate slower balls, giving away just one run from the remaining four balls.
Speaking about the high-octane contest, Yash Dayal's father Chandarpal mentioned that his family stopped watching Dayal's matches after he was hit for five successive sixes by Rinku Singh in the last season.
Chandrapal stated that he couldn't stop himself from turning on the television ahead of the final over of the RCB vs CSK game. He said that he started praying to God after the first ball went for a six, hoping that his son doesn't have to go through what he did last year after Rinku's five sixes.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chandrapal said:
"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 noted how while many had written Yash Dayal off after IPL 2023, he received many phone calls and messages after the bowler guided RCB to a famous win against 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."
Yash Dayal was roped in by RCB at the IPL 2024 mini-auction for ₹5 crore. The bowler has repaid the faith shown by the team management. He is currently the leading wicket-taker for his side this season, bagging 15 wickets in 13 games at an economy rate of 8.94.
"Paise naale mei baha aaye Bangalore waale" - Chandrapal on how people reacted after Yash Dayal was picked up RCB
Chandrapal also spoke about how even the people they knew mocked and trolled Yash Dayal, which led to them exiting all WhatsApp groups. He recalled how someone had commented that Bengaluru had thrown ₹5 crore in the drain by picking 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," he said.
"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 added
Yash Dayal will be seen in action on Wednesday, May 22, when RCB take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium.