Family behind rise of India’s new U-19 captain Dhull

Yash Dhull had his first brush with fame hours after being named captain of the India Under-19 squad for the Asia Cup on Friday.
The top-order batsman and off-spinner was the centre of attraction when he obtained to the Bal Bhavan International School’s academy floor in Dwarka. The 100-odd budding cricketers and their coaches took a small break from their follow session and gathered round a desk on which a spherical cake formed like a cricket area was saved to be minimize by the now-famous pupil.
Yash, 19, obliged selfie-seekers and posed for group images. A coach informed the trainees about Yash being a devoted pupil of the sport and the perfect function mannequin.
The junior India skipper was requested by keen mother and father of budding cricketers for fast tricks to success. A self-conscious Yash spoke about staying grounded, working exhausting, and never letting success get to at least one’s head. He was shortly rising into his new function.
“I am not used to the attention but I don’t get carried away by success. My phone has been constantly ringing and I am trying to answer all the calls from coaches, friends, relatives, and teammates. I have to be thankful for those who helped me get here,” the boy from West Delhi’s Janakpuri space says.

His thoughts went again to the time he used to play two matches a day unmindful of any care exterior the sport as a result of his grandfather Jagat Singh, a military man and battle veteran, chaperoned him across the capital’s cricket circuit.
Dhull’s father Vijay Singh says Jagat would have been overjoyed if he was alive.
Dhull remembers the time of the ‘silent heart attack’ about three years in the past. “It was 7:16 am, my mother had gone to give him his morning tea. He was no more,” Dhull says in regards to the fateful morning.
His grandfather was a relentless shadow and information.
A younger Yash Dhull together with his grandfather Jagat Singh Dhull. (Express Photo)
“My grandfather used to take me everywhere, for every match and every practice session. We were inseparable. We used to have our meals together. He was also wary about me picking up bad habits or falling into the wrong company. So he did advise me. He used to wait the whole day till I finished a game or practice ended and then drive me back home. He enjoyed watching me play,” Dhull says.His father Vijay too had cricketing aspirations however the sport took a backseat when he needed to put meals on the household desk. Vijay could be very matter of truth. “There was a point when I had doubts if I was good enough. It was around the time when I had more responsibilities, like looking after the family,” Vijay, a vice-president with a cosmetics firm, says. “Knowing that Yash is good enough to be named captain of a junior India team brings joy.”
Talent-spotter in household
It was his mom Neelam, Dhull says, who noticed a spark in him. “It was about six years ago. My mother noticed that I was shadow-practising on the street without a bat. So she said, ‘let’s enroll you in an academy’. And that is how my cricket career began.”
He joined the Airliner Cricket Academy in Janakpuri and his progress was a gentle linear graph. Following an unbeaten 186 towards Punjab within the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, he was promoted as skipper. Under his captaincy, Delhi reached the knockouts after eight years. But there was a setback when the pandemic struck simply days earlier than he was to journey to the National Cricket Academy.“My father put up practice nets on the terrace of the house. Everyone bowled to me, including my mother and sister. My family is really supportive.”
One of Dhull’s cherished recollections is of the 40 not out he made as a 11-year-old within the Under-16 Rajesh Peter Memorial Tournament. “I was much younger than the other boys, played in the top order and at the end of the game received my first cash prize, Rs 500,” he remembers.Airliner academy coach Pradeep Kochar, a former First-Class participant, says what stood out instantly was Dhull’s ball sense. As the years progressed, Kochar seen a top quality that would not be taught. “He didn’t let pressure affect him. He was sensible, calm, and controlled his emotions well. It is this nature that makes him special. Youngsters find it hard to handle the pressure of expectations these days. Yash is an exception.”

With nice honour, we announce that Yash Dhull from the DC Bal Bhavan Academy will lead the India U-19 squad on the Asia Cup 🤩✨
Congratulations Yash, you’ve made all of us proud 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #DCCricketAcademy pic.twitter.com/mHI1HYMbgS
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) December 10, 2021
Coaches have began becoming him into completely different moulds. Rajesh Nagar, who trains Dhull on the Bal Bhavan Academy, compares him to Kohli. “He can play aggressive cricket without being unorthodox,” Nagar says. Kochar thinks he sees a KL Rahul in his younger ward. “He can play an all-around game and can switch modes quickly.”
Dhull doesn’t entertain comparisons with Kohli, one other West Delhi boy who additionally captained the India Under-19 workforce, or every other trendy cricketer.
“There is so much competition these days. The game is evolving very fast and having the right mindset is important. I have a long road ahead of me. Also, I don’t have a role model because everyone who plays at the international level has a quality worth emulating. But what I carefully watch is their mindset,” he provides.
The journey to the United Arab Emirates for the U-19 Asia Cup shall be Dhull’s first international tour in India colors. “I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. So, I would say I feel like it is normal. Not taking too much pressure nor having too much joy. It is best to remain grounded.”