Follow UsIt wasn’t very long ago that Rinku Singh smashed Yash Dayal for five sixes in an over to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, one year later, Dayal has not only completed a redemption arc by bowling Royal Challengers Bengaluru into the playoffs after defending 17 runs in the final over against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. The former was especially in a terrific mood on the night and had smacked Dayal’s first ball of the last over for a massive 110-metre six over backward square leg. The six was so huge that it crossed the stadium.
At that point, what Dayal would have thought was quite obvious.
“[After] whatever happened to me last time, there was some nervousness. After being hit for a six by Dhoni Bhai, I was subconsciously transported to that over. But I also knew that I’ve been doing well ever since. So, I was only thinking of executing. I wasn’t looking at the scoreboard, but only trying to bowl good balls,” Dayal said in the press conference after his side’s 27-run victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
However, the monstrous Dhoni six also led to a change in the ball, and a much drier ball came into Dayal’s palms when he was running up to bowl his second delivery of the over. He nailed the slower delivery to perfection, and Dhoni was caught deep on the leg side, trying to go for another maximum.
“I was bowling the last and most crucial over. I conceded a six on the first delivery, and the next ball, I got Mahi Bhai's wicket. So maybe it was the turning point of the game, according to me.”
Even skipper Faf du Plessis trusted his slower ball plan and backed him to confidently bowl his change-up delivery.
“I said pace off on this wicket is the best option. Trust your skills, you've been really good, and enjoy this. This is supposed to be what you train for. So he tried to bowl the first one as a yorker, but the whole night the yorker wasn't working, so told him to go back to his pace-off, and he did that unbelievably well,” du Plessis mentioned during the post-match presentation.
Among all this, Dayal didn’t forget to mention how crucial the RCB management has been to his growth this season. He has picked 15 wickets at a good average of 28.1 and an economy of 8.9, which is quite impressive considering the walloping received by bowlers in IPL 2024.
“The biggest benefit of joining RCB is that I have received proper backing. The management told me that I am an important player and that I will be backed from beginning to end. All I want to say is that the result of their decision to back me is paying off,” Dayal said.
RCB will next play in the Eliminator on May 22, 2024, and their opponent will be decided after the outcomes of the remaining league stage games on May 19.