India dream intact, Yash Dhull says staying in the present is his top priority

India Today

13 hours ago

For Yash Dhull, the dream of donning the India jersey remains alive, but the young Delhi batter insists his focus is firmly fixed on the here and now. The former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain has learned, through both setbacks and successes, that looking too far ahead can prove costly.That mindset was evident in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) on Saturday, where the 22-year-old showcased his talent with a breathtaking 51-ball 105. His knock, studded with 14 fours and four sixes, powered Central Delhi Kings to 197/7 in a rain-hit clash, setting up a 15-run win over North Delhi Strikers.advertisement"I am thinking about how I can grab the opportunity that I have If you think too much about the future, you can't play well in the present," Dhull told PTI Videos.
"I am living in the present and doing my practice side by side Yes, batting a bit against the red ball the lessons at the National Cricket Academy (now BCCI Centre of Excellence) on how to switch from white ball to red ball cricket are helping me a lot right now," he added.A heart surgery for a "minor" congenital issue in July last year forced Dhull to pause, reassess and eventually come back stronger on the cricket field."That incident helped me a lot because I got to know what all I can do No one was standing with me at that time. I knew I was alone, and I had no choice but to make a comeback. I just kept myself mentally strong," Dhull said."(But) I had confidence in myself. I knew I would play again one day and I knew how to make it and how I will make it," he recalled.If his inner strength carried him through the toughest period, his coaches helped shape his resurgence."They are the ones who taught me everything. I am blessed to have such good coaches. I have Rajesh Nagar sir and Pradeep Kochhar sir who have taught me. They must be very happy to see my matches. I am very happy to play under them," he said.Dhull's early promise was evident in his debut Ranji Trophy season in 2021-22 when he finished as Delhi's leading run-getter with 479 runs in six innings at a staggering average of 119.75. That run included hundreds in both innings on debut and an unbeaten double century against Chhattisgarh.Last season, he added 286 runs in seven matches at 40.90, including two centuries, marking steady progress after his surgery.In this year's DPL, Dhull has been in scintillating touch, piling up 292 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 180.25 - third among the tournament's leading scorers.But the 2024-25 season has brought more than just runs; it has brought refinement. His technique now features a subtle trigger movement, a tweak he believes has brought greater balance to his batting.advertisement"You know that you have to make small changes in your life and I just did the same. I am trying to make small changes every day because now everyone is playing at a good level like the IPL plus nowadays video analysis helps oppositions to plan better against you," he explained."A bowler like Harshit Rana, who is playing international cricket for India, won't let me score if I keep playing the same way," he added."I am enjoying my game at the moment. I am not thinking too much about my runs, I am taking things game by game and reacting accordingly."The aspiration to play for India remains alive, but Dhull insists he will not get carried away."It is very important for me to stay in the present because I have made this mistake earlier. I used to think more about the future, I used to think about the past," he said."It is very simple, stay in your present, grab the opportunity and everyone's destiny, touchwood, is written. I am enjoying this moment and not thinking about things ahead," he added.- EndsYou May Also Like