Image Credit- AFP
Imagine the date April 9, 2023. In the last over of Gujarat Titans’ league match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Yash Dayal is bowling. With just 28 runs left to defend, Rinku Singh hits him for five straight sixes, causing GT to lose by three wickets. Dayal is devastated. For the next few days, the picture of him on his haunches with a towel over his eyes goes viral on the internet. After that game, Dayal does not receive another match for over a month. He is then put into the auction pool, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru selects him.
Let’s jump ahead to May 18, 2024. Dayal, who has performed well in the IPL 2024, is given what could be the biggest over assignment of his brief IPL career. These six balls will make or break his team’s playoff chances. He is bowling against MS Dhoni, one of the best finishers in IPL history, and needs 16 runs to defend for RCB to move forward. He bowls Dhoni a full toss on his pads for his first delivery, which he dutifully clatters for a 110-meter six.
Dayal’s brain instantly transports him back to that trying night in Ahmedabad, exactly one year ago. The nerves begin to snap. Does history keep happening again? As CSK needs to score 11 points out of five to advance, Dayal takes a break for himself. This is his chance to make amends and demonstrate his belonging. Running in, he hits a slower ball on a length around off stump with his back to the bat. Dhoni attempts to swing across the line, but the heavy top edge carries to a deep-backward square leg, tricking him with the lack of velocity.
Chaos breaks out in Bengaluru stadiums. While CSK fans are in disbelief, RCB fans are ecstatic.
Dayal is aware that the work is not finished, though. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur are more than capable of hitting 11 off of 4. Dayal, though, doesn’t waver. As RCB pulls off one of the most incredible comebacks in sports history to secure a postseason berth, he hits four slower balls on the spot for 0, 1, 0, 0. The RCB fielders are clowning about the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Faf du Plessis is at a loss for what to do, and Virat Kohli is on the verge of tears. Amidst all of that, Dayal stands strong, grinning broadly, and represents a timeless tale of redemption.
Dayal wasn’t even supposed to bowl the last over. “I was supposed to bowl the second last over,” he said. “Suddenly DK [Dinesh Karthik] bhaiya and Faf talked to each other, and it was decided that Lockie [Ferguson] bowls the 19th and me the last. I was fine with anything.”
Perhaps it was meant to be for Dayal. For the longest time, Dayal’s name has been associated with the bowler who failed to defend 28 in the final over. From Saturday, perhaps, he might be known as the one who denied Dhoni a fairytale finish.