Yash Dayal, a promising fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh, has received his first Test call-up for India in the upcoming match against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on September 19 in Chennai. The 16-member squad announced on Sunday features four fast bowlers- Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal, who is set to join some of the top names in Indian cricket.
For Yash Dayal, this selection marks a significant moment in his career, following a challenging period during the IPL 2023 season. The journey to his Test debut has been filled with personal and professional hurdles.
For almost a year, Yash’s father Chanderpal Dayal, refrained from leaving his home near Allahabad’s Karbala Masjid during the afternoons. The reason was painful; whenever school buses passed by, children would mockingly chant, “Rinku Singh, Rinku Singh, five sixes, five sixes,” recalling the day Yash was hit for five consecutive sixes by Rinku Singh in an IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders. This incident left a deep mark on Yash as well as his family.
Yash Dayal’s Test selection is seen as a new beginning, offering him an opportunity to move past that challenging episode and showcase his talent on the international stage.
During an interview, Yash’s father Chanderpal Dayal said that it was like an accident for them, whenever the school bus passed by him, the kids started shouting, “Rinku Singh, Rinku Singh, five sixes, five sixes”. He added that it was very painful and he used to think why this has happened with his son.
Chanderpal further said that Yash’s mother Radha was broken, she fell ill as she refused to eat after seeing her son going into depression and things became more challenging when Gujarat Titans released Yash. He said that Yash also fell ill but as a family, they all decided that they would not let Yash give up and they would not stop until he plays for the country.
Sport often provides a path to redemption and for Yash Dayal, that moment arrived with his recent call-up to the national Test squad. The narrative around him has transformed—from being remembered as the bowler who was hit for five consecutive sixes to now being considered a more promising option for Test cricket than some established white-ball specialists like Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh.
The Dayal family, who once endured the hurtful taunts of children, now rejoices in Yash’s achievement. They celebrated his success by preparing his favorite dish, “mutton keema,” savoring the joy of his hard-fought journey to the top.
However, whether Yash Dayal will make his Test debut in the upcoming series remains uncertain. With fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the squad and considering the spin-friendly conditions expected for the first Test in Chennai, India may not field a third pacer in the playing XI.
All the best, Yash Dayal!
