Yash Dayal has managed to perform at an economy rate of 8.89 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during a season in which bowlers have been observed running for cover while under attack.
In T20 cricket, there’s nothing more devastating for a bowler than to get hit for five straight sixes in an over. Well, maybe hitting six sixes in an over can top that, but the fact remains that it can frequently drive bowlers into an abyss.
It can be terrifying to find yourself trapped in such a hole, but it takes courage and will to escape, and Yash Dayal, the newest addition to the RCB, is one of the few who understands this better than anybody.
When Gujarat Titans hosted Kolkata Knight Riders for the 13th IPL 2023 match on April 9, Dayal was out of luck. As hard as he could, Dayal raced in to try to defend 28 off the last over, but he lost a close struggle to his UP colleague Rinku Singh.
In the massive Narendra Modi Stadium, Rinku hit five straight sixes to beat KKR in an encounter that was impossible to win.
Few people at the event gave Dayal a thought, as the exuberant crowd was enthralled with Rinku’s powerful punches.
The Uttar Pradesh pacer was severely damaged by Rinku’s blows, and he was unable to bounce back that season.
Despite not knowing if he will play in the IPL, Dayal put his name forward in the 2023 auction. To his joy, RCB paid INR 5 crore to add him to their team.
Many criticised RCB’s expenditure, saying it was foolish to spend so much money on a bowler who must be feeling discouraged following his season-long humiliation.
These beliefs, however, are unfounded since Yash Dayal has emerged as RCB’s most productive bowler throughout the current IPL season.
He is their top wicket-taker for the season, having claimed 10 in the same amount of games. Dayal has given up runs at an 8.89 economy rate per over in the IPL 2024, which is remarkable given how much the bat has dominated the ball.
Dayal can still be a key player for RCB in the upcoming games as they are still in the running to qualify for the playoffs.
