NEW DELHI: The Nagpur airport was buzzing with passengers rushing to collect their luggage and catch their connecting flights. Amid the chaos, Yash Thakur‘s phone rang with the call he had been dreaming of all his life – his maiden India call-up.The 27-year-old fast bowler had just landed in Nagpur when he learnt that he had been picked in India’s squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe. It was the reward for years of hard work in domestic cricket and the IPL. But for Yash, the moment was more than just about fulfilling his own dream. It was about fulfilling the dream of his late father, Ravi Singh Thakur. Yash’s father passed away after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest in 2023, just months before his son’s career began reaching new heights.“Ye papa ka hi dream tha. Aur main unke liye bahut grateful hoon kyunki day one se jab tak woh the, he always supported me and dekhna chahte the mujhe India jersey mein. Aaj wo hote to bahot khush hote [It was my father’s dream. I am very grateful to him because from day one, until he was with us, he always supported me. If he were here today, he would have been extremely happy],” Yash told Timesofindia.com.“He has always been my biggest inspiration. He did so much for me and for my career. I have seen him make countless sacrifices for me. This moment belongs to him and is dedicated to him,” he said.
Reunion with Morne Morkel
A familiar face waiting for Yash in the Indian dressing room will be Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel.The two worked together at Lucknow Super Giants before Yash moved to Punjab Kings, and the pacer says the former South Africa fast bowler helped him improve both technically and mentally.“When I was at LSG, I learnt a lot of technical aspects of fast bowling from Morne Morkel. He has so much international experience. I learnt from him the technical side of bowling, how to back your strengths, how to trust your skills on different wickets and how to take wickets. We shared a very good bond at LSG, so I am really excited to meet him again, discuss these things and continue learning from him,” he said.
Since making his List A debut in 2017, Yash has taken nearly 100 wickets in 57 matches, played 74 T20s and featured in 22 IPL games for Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings, claiming 27 wickets, including a five-wicket haul.“He always told me, ‘You have a good cricketing brain, but always think about which deliveries suit your strengths on a particular pitch and which balls can help you take wickets.’ He made bowling very simple. Before every spell, we would discuss which deliveries would be most effective on that wicket and how I could take wickets there,” Yash said.“During my first IPL season in 2023, he helped me a lot in every match I played. Those discussions with him shaped the way I think. My mindset is always about taking wickets. Pressure situations actually excite me because that’s when I want to take wickets and help my team win. Bowling in pressure situations motivates me even more,” he said.
Learning from Shreyas Iyer
Yash is one of three players to receive their maiden India T20I call-up for the Zimbabwe tour. Wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh and Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma are the other two newcomers.If Yash makes his international debut, he will once again play under Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer. Having already spent a season under Iyer in the IPL, Yash believes the India captain’s biggest strength is the confidence he gives his bowlers.
The Vidarbha pacer is now eager to begin his international journey under Iyer’s leadership.“Shreyas is an amazing captain. I have learnt a lot from him. Yes, he is an aggressive captain and always wants his team to stay on top. He has his own unique way of working. I always say he is a bowler’s captain. He first speaks to the bowlers, discusses plans with them and gives them complete freedom. I played under him in the IPL, and now being back under his captaincy in the Indian team will help me a lot,” the 27-year-old said.
Ponting’s winning mindset
Yash also spent the IPL under Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting, whose influence went far beyond tactics.Asked whether Ponting is a tough taskmaster, Yash said it is the Australian legend’s never-give-up attitude and his ability to inspire confidence that makes him different.“The biggest lesson I learnt from Ricky sir is that no matter what the situation is, you should always think about winning. You should always think about how you can win the match and help the team win. That is his mindset. No matter what happens or what the situation is, your focus should always be on winning. That winning mindset should never change. Watching him taught me that no matter what happens, you have to give your best for the team and always think about winning.” he said.Yash also recalled a dressing-room speech from Ponting that perfectly summed up his mindset.Punjab Kings were chasing 265 against Delhi Capitals earlier this IPL season after KL Rahul’s unbeaten 152 powered Delhi to 264/2.Many in the dressing room felt the target was out of reach. Ponting, however, had a different message.“When we returned to the dressing room, Ricky sir said just one thing: ‘I don’t care whatever it is. From the very first ball, our mindset should be that whatever the score is, we will chase it down.’ And eventually we did chase the target, won the match and created an IPL record for the highest successful run chase in that game,” Yash said.“That’s his mindset. He lifted the confidence of every single member of the team. We were so happy after winning that match. It was a truly memorable one,” he added.Yash believes Iyer shares the same fearless approach.“The same goes for Shreyas as well. His mindset is exactly the same. Whatever the situation, we have to play to win and make sure we win,” the 27-year-old said.
