"What people talk on TV about him I didn't feel that with him" - Yash Dayal praises Virat Kohli for his backing during IPL 2024
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Yash Dayal praised star batter Virat Kohli for making him feel comfortable with the side during the 2024 IPL season. Dayal was coming off a dismal 2023 IPL campaign with the Gujarat Titans (GT), picking up two wickets at an average of 82.50 and an economy of 11.79 in five outings.
However, the left-arm pacer struck gold with RCB, finishing the 2024 season with 15 wickets at an average of 30.60 in 14 games.
In an interview with Sportsak, Dayal spoke highly about Kohli and felt the narrative about the former captain on television was far from the truth.
"The biggest thing he said to me was that they would back me for the entire season and I will not feel as an outsider in the team. They backed me wholeheartedly in the entire season that was a booster for me. He interacts with youngsters in the same way like others and What people talk on TV about him I didn't feel that with him," said Dayal.
Dayal's best moment of the 2024 IPL season came in RCB's final league-stage game against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In a do-or-die encounter for both teams, Dayal successfully defended 17 runs off the final over by conceding only seven despite bowling to reputed finishers MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.
His heroics helped RCB qualify for the playoffs and knock CSK out of the tournament.
"The dressing room of RCB is very chill" - Yash Dayal
Yash Dayal raved about the RCB dressing room by praising the senior players for their unwavering support throughout the season.
RCB scripted a remarkable turnaround in IPL 2024, winning their final six league-stage games after losing seven of their first eight games to qualify for the playoffs. However, their run ended with a defeat in the Eliminator to the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
"The dressing room of RCB is very chill and seniors are very nice and supportive and the players gel in well within the dressing room. It's a management call (on mega auction) and I would like to only represent RCB as of now," said Dayal in the same interaction.
Despite the incredible comeback last season, RCB continues to search for their maiden IPL title.
It remains to be seen the players they retain before the 2025 Mega Auction and what the core looks like next season.