INTERVIEW
Follow UsWhen you visit the Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club (SRNCC) website, there is a column for achievers, and so far (as of November 15, 2024), it does not feature a certain Yashvardhan Dalal.
But it won’t be too long before the update comes as Dalal became the first player to register a quadruple century (400 runs) in the history of Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy (U-23 State Level 4-day tournament), a 51-year-old tournament.
Cricket.com caught up with Dalal right after his historic knock of 428* against Mumbai on November 11.
“Not at all, I was not thinking about the record. I was only thinking about not getting out,” were Dalal’s first words on being enquired about whether he was aware of his historic achievement while batting at the Gurugram Cricket Ground (SRNCC), Sultanpur.
“I did not get to know about the record while I was on the ground. But once I got back, then Bhaiyaa (in a long joyous voice), feeling to bahut hi sahi thi, ki aaj kuch achha kiya hai (It was one of the best feelings that I have finally achieved something),” added the 19-year-old from Jhajjar.
Jhajjar is not known for producing cricketers. A town outlined by Rohtak (political bastion), Gurugram (Metropolitan hub), Bhiwani (Boxer’s factory) and Sonipat (Wrestlers' hub), it is very unlikely to get local inspiration from cricket here. So how did Dalal fall in love with the game?
“My parents had started sending me on the ground since I was five. I started liking cricket and then it clicked and I carried on playing,” said the right-handed batter.
With a lack of inspiration from nearby places, it was natural that Dalal started admiring Virat Kohli, his grit and determination to come out of the worst every time. “As I grew up, I started watching Virat Bhaiya. I like him a lot and the way he has been through ups and downs, I try to take inspiration from him,” Dalal said about his admiration for the modern-day great.
And like Kohli, who represented his state Delhi at all levels before graduating to the national side, Dalal has represented Haryana at U-14, U-16 and U-19 levels, all the way to U-23 now.
Giving credit to the Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) for his continuous growth, Dalal said, “I have been fortunate enough to get the guidance and support from my association, especially Anirudh sir (former BCCI treasurer, HCA Honorary Secretary). Whenever I perform, starting from Under-14, they always give me a chance.”
After his record-breaking feat, Dalal was not oblivious to the fact that he might get a call from the senior state team. “Yes, I am hoping to get a call from the Ranji team. All the coaching staff and members of the team management have been cordial so far,” hoped the batter, who can keep wickets also, if required.
And what about the IPL auction? Although an admirer of red-ball cricket, Dalal is not averse to getting a gig at the richest cricket league in the world. “Maybe I will start getting calls from various IPL teams regarding trials. Although I must clarify that my name has not been picked in the list provided by the BCCI,” he said.
While scoring 428, Dalal smashed 46 fours and 12 sixes, clearly showing his ability to score big and also play for a long time, a deadly combination in modern-day cricket. And it came to good effect against the Mumbai bowlers, said the player who was playing on his club ground, albeit in a different city.
“Initially there was some problem [tackling the Mumbai bowlers], but once I got into the rhythm then the runs started flowing and I continued to play on.”
Being a Kohli fan, there were no two ways about what could be Dalal’s favourite shots. “Cover drive and straight drive,” was his answer. But more than taking a liking to Kohli’s playing style, it is the maturity beyond his age that makes him tailor-made for bigger things, especially in red-ball cricket.
“When I went in, I didn’t think I was going to play 400-500 balls. I started playing session by session and when you play like that, all these small session scores combine to make your score big,” explained the SRNCC Rohtak alumni.
Having scored two double centuries at district level, Dalal is no newbie to batting long. But when it comes to thinking and planning, he wants to keep it short and sweet.
“Currently, I want to focus on the present and not think too much about what’s to come. The future will take care of itself,” were the parting remarks of Dalal when asked about his future ambitions.
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