Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) new recruit Yash Dayal has admitted that he went through a lot emotionally after getting hit for five sixes in an over by Rinku Singh during the IPL 2023 season.
Disturbed by the backlash and trolling on social media, Dayal said it took him long to put it behind and focus on doing well on the field again.
The 26-year-old recounted his journey from that forgettable over for the Gujarat Titans (GT) to earning a Rs 5 crore contract with RCB in the IPL auction last December.
Yash Dayal has made a sensational start while playing for the Bengaluru-based franchise. In RCB’s campaign opener against CSK, the left-arm pacer returned with the figures of 1/28 in his three overs, which included the prized scalp of Ruturaj Gaikwad.
On Monday (March 25), Dayal produced a terrific spell against PBKS as conceded just 23 runs in four overs and took the wicket of Sam Curran.
Speaking to his RCB teammate Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal recalled how he checked social media despite warnings from his close ones after being taken to the cleaners by KKR batter Rinku Singh last year.
"After that match, when I returned to the dressing room, I felt very bad. I was told not to check social media. But, I did check a few comments. I spoke to my family and I was hurting, thinking what people would be thinking about me after that over. In the next two days, I fell ill. It took some time for me to recover and return and focus on playing games," Dayal told IPL.
"But then, I realised that I am not the first person to experience this and I won't be the last. So I put it behind and started focusing on the process again. I thought returning to a high-pressure environment would only make me tackle the situation," he added.
Questions were raised when Yash Dayal was signed by RCB in the auction, but the young left-armer is proving his critics wrong.
"I have heard and seen that RCB's fan following is huge. From my childhood, I have been following two teams, one CSK and RCB. But I never thought I would get an opportunity to play with one of the two franchises. So after coming here and seeing the atmosphere, and playing will all of you feels like a dream only," Yash said.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday (March 29).
