Yash Dayal revealed that he felt bad after dismissing MS Dhoni in the crucial Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) versus Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
After losing seven out of their first eight games in the campaign, RCB’s hopes of making the playoffs were all but over. However, they turned things around remarkably and needed a win by at least 18 runs in their last league game against CSK to seal their spot in the Eliminator. In the last over, CSK needed 17 runs to knock RCB out and make it to the top four.
RCB skipper Faf du Plessis entrusted Dayal to bowl the all-important 20th over. The Bengaluru-based franchise was trolled when they roped in the left-arm seamer at the auction. However, Dayal produced some impressive performances during the season and he had a great opportunity to take his side beyond the league stage. He had to bowl to the experienced MS Dhoni, who had a strike rate of over 220 in the season. The former India captain hit the first ball for a six to put the 26-year-old under tremendous pressure. However, the youngster held his nerves and dismissed the veteran off the very next delivery.
Dayal said that dismissing Dhoni remains a bitter-sweet moment for him as it could be the wicketkeeper-batter’s last appearance in professional cricket.
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“I felt bad after dismissing him. Because I don’t know or care what people say but the frustration with which he left the ground, it was like you don’t know whether he will return or not. Will we ever see him again on the ground. It was a moment where a lot of things were going through my head. I got a breather, a bit of relief,” Dayal said while speaking to Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel.
‘I told him right now it’s like peanut butter falling from top’ – Yash Dayal reveals interaction with Virat Kohli in the dying stages of the clash
Shardul Thakur walked in at the fall of Dhoni’s wicket and Dayal said that Virat Kohli came up to him to give his words of advice. The Allahabad-born said that he was confident about closing the game for his side.
“With 11 runs needed off 4, I was like why I am even looking at the scoreboard. I shouldn’t. I should just focus on my bowling. Shardul bhai was on strike. Virat bhai said, ‘don’t give pace, nor bowl right onto his bat’. I told him right now it’s like peanut butter falling from top. Anywhere I want to bowl, I will I have so much confidence,” Dayal stated.
Dayal conceded just one run off the last four deliveries as RCB won by 27 runs to make it to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
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