Yash Dayal's redemption arc is complete. Sport is a great leveller, they say, and this story is just the perfect example of it. One day, it makes one want to dig a hole and be buried underneath; on the other, it brings the world to one's feet. Such is the nature of any sport and those who keep persisting till the end, end up reaping the rewards and seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Yash Dayal's story is no different. The youngster is soaking in all the applause from his terrific bowling performance, especially the last over in the RCB vs CSK IPL 2024 match, where he got MS Dhoni's wicket and pulled off a magnificent win for his side, taking them to the IPL 2024 playoffs. Rinku Singh Congratulates Yash Dayal After Pacer Helps RCB Beat CSK To Qualify for IPL 2024 Playoffs (See Instagram Story).

But a year ago, things were pretty different for him. Run it back to IPL 2023. Gujarat Titans needed to defend 28 runs in the final over against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 9 and Dayal was given the task to pull it off for his team. Umesh Yadav, the man on strike for KKR, took a single off the first ball and what followed next would always go down as one of the most memorable finishes in the history of the IPL. Rinku Singh smashed five sixes off Dayal and snatched an improbable win for KKR. And that over seemed to have put the fast bowler's career into a tailspin. Pictures of him with a dejected look, covering his face with a handkerchief, went viral all over the internet as the left-arm pacer suddenly became the talking point--not for the reasons he had wanted to. He was subsequently released by Gujarat Titans before the IPL 2024 auction and not many expected him to fetch a good bid. ‘What a Turnaround…Comeback Always Stronger Than Setback’ Fans Laud Yash Dayal After Fast Bowler Helps RCB Qualify for IPL 2024 Playoffs With Victory Over CSK.

Gujarat Titans did try to get him, but it was RCB that acquired his services for a whopping Rs 5 crore at the auction, a purchase that was questioned by several people. While commentating on one of RCB's matches this season, Murali Kartik even referred to this signing as 'someone's trash is someone else's treasure'.

Watch Yash Dayal's Last Over in RCB vs CSK IPL 2024 Match:

Cut to 2024. A packed M Chinnaswamy roaring with every ball and with two lethal big-hitters in the form of MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in front of him--Dayal had technically 17 runs to play with to keep RCB's playoff hopes alive. The situation might not have looked very promising and it would not have been unnatural if the flashbacks from that Rinku Singh onslaught came back to haunt him. And the first ball flew over the fine-leg fence and out of the roof for a six hit by MS Dhoni. Many would have thought that a 2023 repeat was on the cards at that time. But 'God's Plan' was different this time as Dayal dismissed Dhoni and restricted CSK to 191/7, helping RCB into the playoffs. The image of him running across the ground with outstretched arms spoke a lot about the relief and joy he experienced after having redeemed himself. Dayal had not just won the battle on the pitch but the war inside his mind. He was at the top of his game once again. ‘Definitely Not’ Trends on ‘X’ As Fans Request MS Dhoni Not To Announce Retirement After CSK Fail To Qualify for IPL 2024 Playoffs.

It was not just a one-off performance. The left-arm pacer has been RCB's highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024, with 15 wickets in 13 matches. His performance with the ball has been one of the major reasons for RCB's dramatic turnaround in IPL 2024, where they went from being bottom-placed on the points table to winning six in a row and making the playoffs at the expense of the reigning champions. Moral of the story? Never stop believing in yourself like Dayal and his story of redemption is set to stand out as a shining example for years to come.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 19, 2024 05:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).