Delhi boy Yash Dhull is aware of how the career graphs of his two state predecessors as U-19 skipper developed in contrasting styles after winning the World Cup. While Virat Kohli reached the top of world cricket, Unmukt Chand plummeted to the depths of despair.
Yash, residing in Janakpuri, west Delhi, studied in Bal Bhawan International School in Sector 12, Dwarka, and had his first lessons at the cricket academy there under coach Rajesh Nagar.
“I got to know him when he was 11. He was very energetic, and even at that tender age, you could make out that he stood out from the rest with the rest. When he was 12, we used to make him play in the 16 age-group and he impressed in the local tournaments,” Rajesh told The Telegraph on Thursday.
“His maturity level was always different. It felt like when he was 18 that he had the mental toughness of a 24-year-old. His dedication and hard work is admirable,” he added.
Rajesh does feel Dhull will be able to graduate to the next level. “He has a lot of potential. If they win the final, they will be picked up the IPL franchises at the auction. He may not have played at the first-class level but he is equally good at playing with the red ball. That’s because he is technically very sound,” he said.
Dhull, on Wednesday, showed he had the mental strength to put his head down and avert a crisis. The captain’s run-a-ball 110 and his 204-run partnership with vice-captain Shaik Rasheed (94) helped India recover from 37 for 2 to a total of 290 for 5.