Can't confirm Yash Dayal playing again in the IPL 2023: GT captain Hardik Pandya

Yash Dayal conceded 5 sixes off 5 deliveries to Rinku Singh in the last match he played for GT in the IPL 2023.

Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya has given an alarming update on fast bowler Yash Dayal who has been missing in action since his terrible last over against Rinku Singh in their IPL 2023 game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Ahmedabad.

Dayal was handed the ball by Rashid Khan, who was captaining the side in that match as KKR needed 29 runs from the last six balls of the match. Dayal gave a single to Umesh Yadav on the first ball, bringing Rinku Singh on the strike.

Singh had hit Josh Little for a six and a four off the last two balls of the 19th over and was in dangerous form. He proceeded to hammer Yash Dayal for five sixes in the next five balls to win the game for KKR, as the left-arm pacer crumbled under the pressure, bowling full tosses and short deliveries.

While Rinku stole the show with his monstrous knock, Dayal’s absence from the GT playing XI was noted in the very next match, against Punjab Kings.

Yash Dayal fell ill and lost 7-8 kilos after that match: Hardik Pandya

Meanwhile, GT have brought in Mohit Sharma in place of Yash Dayal and the veteran pacer, who is playing in IPL after three years due to injuries and loss of form has won two Player of the Match awards for his terrific bowling in the death overs for GT.

On Tuesday night, Pandya was questioned about the Dayal after Gujarat Titans defeated Mumbai Indians by 55 runs in Ahmedabad.

He said: “I can’t confirm that (on his chances of playing again this season). He fell ill and lost 7-8 kilos after that match. There was a spread of viral infection during that period and also due to the pressure he had faced, his condition is presently not good enough to take the field. Someone’s loss is someone’s gain at the end of the day. It is going to take a long time before we see him on the field.”

Now it remains to be seen whether Yash Dayal can move on from that hammering he took, gather himself and come back into the XI, as Mohit Sharma has done extremely well since his arrival.