Chandarpal Dayal reads the morning newspaper before starting his day. But last Monday, he did not touch newspaper for the first time in his life out of fear of seeing his son Yash Dayal’s emotional pictures from the day before. He hasn’t even looked at social media. The television in Allahabad was turned off as soon as Yash’s final ball was walloped for a six to start celebrations at Rinku Singh’s family in Aligarh.
However, he soon found out from his loved ones that Dayal had been seen on television crying. Chandarpal made the decision to intervene on behalf of his weak son, who “doesn’t talk or show emotions much.”
He sent Yash’s aunt, uncle, and cousin sister, who were at the pitch watching him live, to the team hotel before he called his son.
“I instructed them to go encourage him and boost his confidence. It would be reasonable for him to feel down.
Fast bowler Chanderpal, who competed in the Vizzy Trophy in the late 1980s, too had to take some time to heal. “I played cricket, but being a parent is something else entirely. I did become a little depressed, wondering “why it happened, how it happened,” and “worried for my son,” he admits. He made the decision to stay with his son at this difficult time and watch the following game from the ground. Then he dialled Yash.
When Chanderpaul called, Yash had hardly recovered from his aunt and uncle’s visit. What can a father say to a little boy whose vulnerable nightmare night became a viral video throughout the cricketing world yet who dreams to play and star for India?
He instructed Yash, “Ghabraana nahi (Don’t be alarmed). “I responded by saying, “This is not a novel concept in cricket. Bowlers being struck. Big bowlers have experienced it. Just put in the effort, analyse your faults, and keep in mind that this has happened before in cricket. Malinga and Stuart Broad, two prominent athletes, have experienced the circumstance.
An old cricketing clip played in his head. A fast bowler named Chandarpal who competed in the Vizzy Trophy in the late 1980s was once hit for three straight sixes. “This was a semi-final; it wasn’t an international match like the IPL. But even so…merely an average hitter had hammered me for three sixes. I’ve told Yash that tale numerous times. Our team had lost the semifinal contest. When I contacted him last night, I reminded him once again,” laughs Chandarpal.
He then informed Yash that he will attend the following match on March 13 in Mohali. “I told him I’d be with you there, I’m coming,” He’ll recover quickly. I hope that this wasn’t a particularly dark night for him. He will undoubtedly return forcefully.
Chandarpal first saw Yash’s cricket talent when he was six years old. Chandarpal’s father opposed him playing cricket, hence his dreams of becoming a professional player didn’t come true. Dayal, an employee of the AG office, reminisces, “My father always used to say there is no future in cricket, I am wasting my time, you should prepare for government examinations. The father, Chandarpal, felt something stir that day as six-year-old Yash played cricket with his relatives outside the house.
“What particularly surprised me was seeing him throw the ball with his left hand. To my amazement, kid turned out to be a fast bowler when he first started bowling left-handed, the father claims. He started working out with Yash. Yash began attending the Madan Mohan Malviya Cricket Stadium in Allahabad when he was 12 years old.
In Yash’s case, his father began grooming him at a very young age. It really helped him,” says boyhood coach Amit Pal.
Yash will recover, and Amit is also optimistic about this. “It was only a bad day. After those five sixes, I can assure you that he will put in the necessary effort to improve his bowling. He is a better bowler than that, and the world will know it, claims Pal.
Meanwhile, Yash’s father is preparing to travel to be with his son. Though his own cricketing ambitions may not have come true, he is confident that he won’t let his son’s progress falter. “He always recovered quickly from difficult circumstances. Yesterday he was unable to achieve it, but you will see that he will do admirably once he plays next.