Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Yash Dayal has credited an incident in which he was smashed for five consecutive sixes by Rinku Singh in IPL 2023 as a turning point in his career. Dayal, who was then representing the Gujarat Titans, suffered the setback against the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, the experience proved to be a valuable lesson for the left-arm pacer.
The incident led to Dayal losing his place in the Gujarat Titans playing XI and eventually being released from the side ahead of the 2024 season. RCB, recognizing his potential, acquired him for a significant sum, and Dayal has since become a key performer for the franchise.
In the ongoing IPL season, Dayal has emerged as RCB’s leading wicket-taker, with 15 scalps to his name. He played a pivotal role in RCB’s qualification for the playoffs, defending 17 runs in the last over against the Chennai Super Kings, with MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease.
Speaking ahead of RCB’s Eliminator clash against the Rajasthan Royals, Dayal reflected on the impact of the incident involving Rinku Singh. He acknowledged that it had been a challenging experience but emphasized the lessons he had learned from it.
‘The spike in my career is because of that over. It made me face the realities of life and gave me a lot of learning. That over taught me how to prepare for things that I am not prepared for, and how to tackle situations in life,’ Dayal said on Jio Cinema.
Dayal also revealed that he had been unwell before the match against KKR but had pushed himself to play. He expressed his gratitude for the support he had received from the Gujarat Titans management and players after the incident, particularly Ashish Nehra, who advised him to stay focused and work harder.
Joining RCB has been a positive change for Dayal, who expressed his delight at being part of the Bengaluru-based franchise.
‘Very happy to be a part of RCB. There is a different enjoyment in being an RCBian, that I am getting to feel now,’ Dayal said.
Dayal’s journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of adversity. The experience with Rinku Singh may have been a setback at the time, but it ultimately led to Dayal’s growth as a cricketer and a person.
