By Boria Majumdar
Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes, Yash Dayal.
Broad, after being hit for six sixes by Yuvraj Singh in the T20 world cup in 2007, came back to become one of England’s best fast bowlers of all time. Stokes went a step better. Hardened by the Carlos Brathwaite encounter in the 2016 World T20 final, he helped England win multiple World Cups and is considered one of the greatest all-rounders of his time.
Yes, Yash is still a youngster. He has little pedigree compared to his other more illustrious counterparts. He is no Broad. But what he has to do is absorb the setback and come back stronger. Ashish Nehra, the Gujarat Titans coach, considers him a great prospect, and was instrumental in picking him for a whopping 3.2 crores at the auction. Many, including myself, were a tad surprised when the bid went as high for someone who hadn’t played much first-class cricket. But for young Yash, things couldn’t be better. It was indeed a transformative moment for the young man, and a good IPL performance last year pushed him towards more glory.
It was all going well for him until the Rinku Singh moment changed it all. While the world celebrated Rinku, Yash 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. And if Yash is able to stand up and face this reversal, he would have taken ten strides to becoming a better cricketer in the years to come.
If the auction was tumultuous, the Rinku moment was torture. That he has now earned crores as a young man and can take care of his family is a huge achievement for anyone. Yash isn’t an exception. But he also knows that it is all because of his cricket, and that’s where the Rinku moment will hurt.
Just moments after the auction, he had said, “I have added pace in the last few months. Earlier I used to bowl in the early 130s. Now I am touching 140kmph consistently. If I can swing the ball at this pace, I am confident I will be able to do well for my team.”
That’s what he wasn’t able to do in the final over against KKR. Losing his length in trying to bowl yorkers and then coming under pressure, things just happened before Yash could wrest control back. And that’s where Nehra becomes very important in the change room. And Hardik Pandya. Yash has grown up watching Nehra, and his presence will help him.
This is what Yash had said about Nehra in the immediate aftermath of the auction. “Having him as head coach is great because he has seen it all as a player and also as a coach. As a left-arm fast bowler, he was one of the best ever for India. I am much looking forward to learning from him and improving my skills.”
From the 3.2 crore bid to being hit for five sixes, young Yash has seen it all.
How he reacted to the auction and to the bid was clear evidence of how he needs protection in the days ahead. He isn’t Broad or Stokes yet, and that’s something to remember. Mental health is a concern, and he is indeed on the cusp.
Here’s Yash for you after the auction. “On Day one, my name did not come up and I was hoping it will come at some point around early afternoon the next day. Finally when our lot was up for auction, I have to confess I was nervous. The two previous names went unsold and I was thinking if I wasn’t picked up by anyone, it was all over for me. I was with a friend at the time, and had spoken to my parents ahead of the auction. And when the bid started going up, I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t sure if it was real. I can’t describe to you the joy, and must say it wasn’t something I had expected. My world had changed, and when I called my parents soon after, they were in tears. It seemed all the hard work I had put in had worked for me.”
He will still be emotional, but this is emotion of a very different kind. It is one of acute disappointment, but that’s where the comeback really starts. Sachin Tendulkar was bowled by Dilhara Fernando for a duck at the 2007 World Cup, and had wanted to give it all up. He wanted to retire. Even the greatest found it hard. Yash just needs to be told that it’s okay to fail. Everyone does. Yes, it is hard when millions are watching, but that’s what sport is all about. In the next match, when he runs in and picks up a scalp, the same people will 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.
Yash has seen the worst. It’s now time for him to see the good again, and rise.