Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes, Yash Dayal.
Broad, after being hit for six sixes by Yuvraj Singh in the T-20 world cup in 2007, came back to become one of England’s best fast bowlers of all time. Ben Stokes went a step better. Hardened by the Carlos Brathwaite encounter, he helped England win multiple world cups and is considered one of the greatest all-rounders of his time.
Yes, Yash Dayal is still a youngster. Has little pedigree compared to his other more illustrious counterparts. He is no Broad. But what he has been able to do is absorb the setback and comeback stronger.
It was all very good for him till the Rinku Singh moment changed it all. While the world celebrated Rinku, he was left to ponder how it all happened. This is what sport is all about. It Tests you. Pushes and challenges you. Even breaks you if you aren’t strong enough. Dayal was able to stand up and face this reversal and has now taken 10 strides to becoming a better cricketer as was seen last night against CSK where he defended 6 of 3 balls after conceding a 6 of a no-ball.
For Dayal, the Rinku-moment was a torture. Losing length in trying to bowl yorkers and then coming under pressure, things just happened before Dayal could get his control back. And that’s where Dayal got it right last night in the last three balls. Against the likes of Shivam Dube and Jadeja, he got things spot on and RCB won a famous victory.
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From being hit for five sixes, and now winning it again versus CSK, after he did so last year in the last over, young Dayal has seen it all.
He will certainly be emotional after last night but this is an emotion of a very different kind. It is one of elation and relief rather than the one of acute disappointment that he felt when Rinku happened.
Sachin Tendulkar was bowled by Dilhara Fernando for a duck in the 2007 world cup and had wanted to give it all up. He wanted to retire. Even the greatest found it hard. Dayal needed to be told it’s okay to fail. Everyone does. Yes, it is hard when millions are watching but that’s what sport is all about. He needed to be told when he next ran in and picked his scalp the same people would start applauding again.
That’s what the IPL is all about. It is about aspiration and fulfilling dreams. It makes you a hero overnight and a fallen hero soon after. But then again it offers you an opportunity. That’s why it is the brand it is now and captures our imagination for two straight months every year. The Yash Dayal story isn’t unique. Rather it is the norm in the IPL, making it India’s most valued sports property.
Dayal had seen the worst. Now he is seeing the high again. He will know it all too well that this isn’t permanent either. There could again be a Rinku moment round the corner. But then he is ready for it.
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