Yash Dhull
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Early life
Arani Basu, Dec 11, 2021: The Times of India
Factfile:
Age: 19
Middle-order Right-Hand bat
Played Delhi U-14 at the age of 12
Captained Delhi U-16s
Captained Delhi U-19s
Captained India U-19 'A' in recent Challenger Trophy
Delhi boy's dad quit job, lived off grandfather's pension, set up nets on terrace during pandemic to shape his career
NEW DELHI:Yash Dhull joined the list of U-19 India captains from Delhi. When the Indian cricket board (BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming U-19 Asia Cup in UAE, it was a moment of recognition for the Dhull family in Janakpuri. The academy at Bal Bhavan school in Dwarka, where he hones his skills, was turned into a celebrity corner moments after BCCI's announcement. Felicitations and events were planned within hours. For Yash and his family, bursting into celebrations could wait.
Yash, an aggressive middle-order batter, is a boy of very few words. You don't get the jubilance in his voice. At best, he blushes. "Just start hi kar raha hoon (I am just starting out)," is the reaction he would give. He has been leading Delhi from his U-16 days and he slyly says: "If I keep playing sincerely, I'll reach some good level."
He says cricket has always been his way of life. He is watching cricket all day on TV or his phone. Yash doesn't have a role model. "Anyone who plays at the international level is good enough to learn from. I follow everyone's game closely. I don't copy anybody, but everyone is my hero," he says.
But Yash makes it a point that he mentions the sacrifices made by his family. His desire and ambition to become a cricketer was non-negotiable for the Dhull family. "I don't remember much but when I was very young my family had to go through a tough time to support me," Yash says.
Father Vijay Dhull, now an executive with a cosmetic brand, gets emotional listening to his son's words. He composes himself and then explains: "You have to make certain compromises if you want your son to build a career in cricket in a city like Delhi. I had to make sure I gave him enough time so that he would stay focused on cricket and not stray. My career was secondary. So, I quit my regular job and started doing consultancy. There was financial instability."
Vijay goes on to add: "I had to ensure he got the best kit and gear to play from an early age. I gave him the best of English willow bats. He didn't have just one bat, I kept upgrading them. We had cut down on our expenses and luxuries. My father was an army man. The pension that he received was used to run the household. Yash would always wonder how we were managing it."
The family was always invested in making Yash a cricketer. Vijay says it was his wife who noticed a four-year-old Yash's ball sense and interest in cricket.
"My wife was the first person to insist that Yash should become a cricketer. She noticed that the boy had some ability and thus we decided to get him formal coaching at the age of six. She was happy to cut down on family trips and all expenses," Vijay says Then the parents and grandfather realized that the boy could be turned into a cricketer.
He was taken to a local academy at Bharati College at a tender age before moving to Bal Bhawan school's academy when he was 11 years old. At the age of 12, Yash had represented Delhi in U-14s. The family realized he was on the right path and academics could safely take a backseat.
"Yash's grandfather was also very supportive. When I would get busy with work, he used to take Yash around the city to play back-to-back matches in a day. He too has exerted a lot," an emotional Vijay recalls.
A match-saving unbeaten 185 against Punjab in a U-16 match gave Yash the confidence that he could prosper at a higher level of cricket.
Vijay would give him throwdowns beyond regular practice hours. And that habit came to Yash's aid when the pandemic hit last year. Vijay decided to set up nets on their terrace. "He would talk to his coach Rajesh Nagar over phone and share videos. I used to go to an academy as a kid myself. I know the basics of training. I would give him practice in the nets on the terrace. We worked on his inside-out shot over covers. He plays it with ease now," Vijay says.
As Yash gets ready to join the India U-19 camp at NCA in Bengaluru from today, his family has drilled into his mind that the journey has only started. "We don't talk about cricket at home beyond his practice hours. But what we have told him is to stay grounded. So many players play U-19 cricket and then they fade away," Vijay says.
Yash is entering the fast lane. He will be exposed to the best of facilities and opportunities. Yet, he knows it's just the beginning of a journey.
