As Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their training session, most eyes were on preparation for the new season but one name quickly became the center of attention – Yash Dayal.
The left-arm pacer was missing and it did not go unnoticed.
Fans first spotted his absence during the team’s practice, where Virat Kohli addressed the squad before heading to the nets. But what raised even more questions was that Yash Dayal was not featured in the team bus graffiti either. With no official update from the franchise, speculation started spreading online about whether RCB had quietly moved on from him.
Yash Dayal has not played any competitive cricket since the IPL 2025 final, where RCB defeated Punjab Kings to win their first ever title. After that, he disappeared from the field entirely. He also did not take part in the domestic season for Uttar Pradesh, reportedly after being left out and dealing with ongoing legal issues.
According to a report in a leading publication, Yash Dayal has cut off contact with almost everyone. Even officials from the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association and his childhood coach have not been able to reach him. Attempts to contact him have failed and reports suggest that he has even changed his phone number, making it difficult for anyone to track his whereabouts.
Adding another twist, his wife Shweta Pundir recently posted a photo of him training in the nets. However, the location was not Bengaluru, raising further uncertainty about his current situation.
Off the field, Yash Dayal is facing serious legal trouble. Two separate cases have been filed against him in different states. One case in Ghaziabad accuses him of physical exploitation under the pretext of marriage, for which he has received interim protection from the Allahabad High Court. Another case in Jaipur involves charges under the POCSO Act related to a minor.
Despite the controversy, RCB had retained Yash Dayal for Rs 5 crore ahead of the previous mini-auction in Jeddah, a decision that drew criticism.
For now, his absence remains unexplained, leaving fans with more questions than answers.
