Yash Dayal’s father, Chandarpal, recalled the times when his son was severely trolled after RCB picked him for Rs 5 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. Last year, while playing for GT, Dayal was taken to the cleaners by KKR’s Rinku Singh, who hit the speedster for 5 sixes on the trot at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
In the auction, the Titans tried to buy him back, but RCB secured the services of the pacer after an intense bidding war with the 2022 champions. Dayal’s father said that RCB were ridiculed after they shelled out a whopping amount for the 26-year-old seamer.
“In one of the WhatsApp groups, a person I know shared a meme, mocking Yash for conceding five sixes and I still remember what he wrote with the picture ‘Prayagraj Express ki kahaani shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho gayi (The story of Prayagraj Express got over before it even began),” Dayal told The Indian Express.
“It never stopped, we as a family literally quit all WhatsApp groups, barring our family one. Even when RCB picked him in the auction for Rs 5 crore, I remember someone saying ‘Paise naale mei baha aaye Bangalore waale (The franchise threw the money in the drain)’. We live in a world where even if you switch off from social media, you will end up seeing all kinds of stuff,” he added.
On Saturday, Dayal put his best foot forward and helped RCB qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs after their 27-run win over CSK at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Although the Super Kings needed 219 to win, they were required to score 201 to book their berth in the playoffs.
With RCB needing to defend 17 runs in the final over, Dayal conceded a six to MS Dhoni. From there on, Dayal made a stupendous comeback to restrict the 5-time champions.
Dayal has been the standout bowler for the Challengers as he is their leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps from 13 matches at an economy rate of 8.94.
Dayal has his task cut out when RCB lock horns with RR in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 22 in Ahmedabad.
