I would leave no stone unturned – Yash Dayal on his riveting comeback tale

Yash Dayal who got his maiden call-up for the India Bangladesh Test series had to walk through fire to arrive at the pedestal that he is on. From being hammered in the 2023 IPL to becoming a game-changer in the latest edition of the tournament, Dayal’s journey has been one to savour. Talking to ESPNCricinfo, he narrated a crucial part of his journey, highlighting how there was an intense set-up in place to shape that turnaround of his while, the fast-bowling contract from BCCI was a massive leap towards greatness.

Dayal said, “I was already in the targeted pool after the 2022 IPL. But now, getting a fast-bowling contract given to a select few - I was aware that if I do well in domestic cricket, it could be easy to get the India call-up.”

Shedding light on the details of the pool, Dayal added, “At first I wasn't aware what exactly happens with players in the targeted pool. But soon I understood that everything about my game would be looked after and monitored by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). That includes not just my bowling but my workload, training sessions, how much strain was on my body.”

He then shifted his focus to the kind of transition that he has undergone, stating, “A lot has changed in the last two years. When I see senior players from up close, when I talk to them, I notice [that some of them] travel with personal chefs, they measure what they eat, how much rice they consume, how much protein had, things to avoid to enhance their training. When I see them looking that lean, it naturally motivates me.”

Dayal concluded by saying, “In the 2023 IPL, after that match against KKR, I became slightly weak and my focus wasn't there. But slowly I started to cope with what had happened. After that I made a set-up so I would not turn back - whether it be in training or my diet, I would be so clear that when I make the comeback, I would leave no stone unturned. I took the decision to focus on the assignments given to me and the targets I need to meet. Because of that I now feel that this call-up has come at the best time.”