RCB pacer Yash Dayal's father, Chanderpal Dayal, reflected on the aftermath of the heartbreaking moment in IPL 2023 when his son was struck for five consecutive sixes by Rinku Singh, leading to his team’s defeat. With 28 runs needed from the last five balls, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Rinku Singh launched an extraordinary assault, hitting Dayal for five maximums in a row, securing one of the most memorable finishes in IPL history to beat Gujarat Titans.
The incident propelled Rinku to new heights, it was likely the lowest point in Dayal’s career, as he ended IPL 2023 with just two wickets, an average of 82.50, and a high economy rate of 11.79.
"It was like an accident for us. The school bus would pass by, and kids would scream, ‘Rinku Singh, Rinku Singh, five sixes.’ It was so painful — why did this have to happen to my son? His mother Radha was so distraught that she fell ill and refused to eat as Yash went into a shell. Titans also released him as he had to rebuild his career'', Yash's father told PTI.
The 26-year-old delivered an impressive performance in the recently concluded 2024 Duleep Trophy clash between India A and India B, finishing with match figures of 4/89. He is now set to play in the upcoming first Test match against Bangladesh.
Yash's father shared that despite Yash falling ill, the family never allowed him to consider giving up. They made a collective promise to keep pushing until he played for India, consistently encouraging him to stay motivated and focused on his goal. And now, he proudly stands before everyone.
"Yash fell ill, but we never let him think about giving up. We, as a family, made a pledge. We won’t stop until you play for India. You will play for India. Me and my family would keep motivating him to ensure that he never thinks of giving up. And today, he’s in front of you'', he told.
After being let go by the Gujarat Titans, Yash was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the IPL 2024 campaign. The left-arm fast bowler made a strong comeback following a tough IPL 2023, ending the 2024 season with an impressive tally of 15 wickets.
"It can’t get bigger than this for a father. For any cricketer, representing the country in Tests is the ultimate dream. It’s a huge day for us, for our family, and for our friends. The entire credit goes to him. No matter how hard I would have tried, it was his efforts that got him where he has reached today," said Chanderpal.