Yash Dhull was on cloud nine as he lifted the ICC U19 World Cup title in Antigua on February 5, 2022, defeating England in the final by 4 wickets. He will also be going under the hammer in the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction, but the Delhi youngster says his focus will be on cricket.
India had earlier won the U-19 World Cup in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018.
The Indian camp was rattled by multiple COVID-19 cases but Dhull led the side to an unprecedented fifth World Cup title, in a tightly fought, low-scoring final against Tom Prest’s England. Talking about the potentially life-changing moment, Yash Dhull said that he wanted to play and focus on cricket only going forward.
Yash Dhull named captain of ICC's team of U19 World Cup 2022; three Indians included in XI
"I want to play cricket only. The focus will be on the game, the rest of the things will take care of themselves. I will take it match-by-match. Let's see what happens,” Dhull said at the post-match press conference when asked about his future plans.
The 19-year-old Delhi-born cricketer complemented his deputy and fellow batter, Shaik Rasheed, saying they share a great bond on and off the field.
“Shaik Rasheed is my best friend, we have dinners together. When we were batting together in the final, the thought was to take it deep and then finish it five-seven overs earlier. We were dismissed but Nishant Sindhu played well. In the field, Rasheed kept suggesting me and it helped me to have a free mind. It also gave me confidence that I am making the right decisions," Dhull said.
The Indian captain credited the entire team for the success, calling winning the U19 World Cup, a proud moment for him and his teammates.
IND v WI 2022: WATCH - Rohit, Kohli, and Dravid share a special message on India's 1000th ODI
"It is a big moment, everyone was supporting, so it is a big moment for us to win the tournament. It is a team effort, backing players is a sign of a good team. We kept moving ahead with a positive mindset. Medium pacers have been doing well for us since the Asia Cup, Ravi Kumar gave us a good start and Raj Bawa was exceptional," said Dhull.
Last but not the least, Dhull praised all-rounder Raj Bawa, who picked 5/31 and rattled the England batters early in their innings after they won the toss and decided to bat.
"Raj Bawa has an important role as an all-rounder. His mindset is really good and he has full confidence in his game. Bawa takes the batter by surprise through his bouncers. He bowls it real quick," Dhull said.
(PTI inputs)
