Yash Dayal, a young and promising left-arm pacer for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), faced a major setback a year ago during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Facing Rinku Singh in the final over, Dayal conceded five consecutive sixes, leading to a heart-wrenching defeat for RCB. The distress of witnessing her son’s struggle took a toll on Dayal’s mother, Radha, who fell ill.
However, RCB showed faith in Dayal’s abilities and acquired him in the 2024 auction for a sum of INR 5 crore. With renewed determination, Dayal showcased significant improvement in the 2024 season. His moment of glory arrived on Saturday against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) when he was tasked with defending 17 runs against seasoned finishers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.
Dayal rose to the challenge, delivering an exceptional performance to close out the match with a thrilling victory. This triumph not only secured RCB’s place in the playoffs but also marked a personal milestone for Dayal, allowing him to overcome the painful memories of the past.
After the match, Dayal’s first act was to video-call his mother, expressing his joy and relief. Since RCB’s 27-run win, the Dayal household has been flooded with congratulatory calls. Dayal’s father, Chandrapal, a former medium pacer, initially feared a repeat of the previous year’s events when Dhoni struck a towering six off the first ball of the final over. However, he remained optimistic, believing in his son’s hard work and determination.
Rinku Singh, the batsman who had tormented Dayal with those five sixes last season, was among the first to applaud the pacer’s brilliant performance. Taking to social media, Rinku wrote, “God’s plan baby.”
RCB now awaits the outcome of Sunday’s matches to determine their opponents in the Eliminator, having secured the fourth spot in the points table with their victory against CSK.
