Duleep Trophy: After health scare, Yash Dhull rediscovers focus and resilience

BENGALURU: An U-19 World Cup win as captain? Tick. A century on debut in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy? Tick. Before Yash Dhull was out of his teens, he had taken the cricketing world by storm and promised more.

But in June last year, he felt like the world he was painstakingly building had started crumbling.A 17mm hole in his heart needed surgery, but with the domestic season ahead, he was unwilling. The doctors gave him no option but to go under the knife and a one-month recovery period followed, during which time he was advised bed rest.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

A couple of months later, when he began playing again, he found the going tough with bouts of fatigue and high blood pressure.Dhull has no option but to slow down, reflect and reboot.During this time, he found his calling in snooker, which he started playing regularly.Dhull, who scored a well-crafted century (133) for North Zone against East Zone in the Duleep Trophy last week, revealed how picking up the cue was one of the best things he did during that low phase.“I spent a lot of time playing snooker. That game also taught me a lot. My mind often wandered around; I wasn't concentrating much.

It was during that time that snooker taught me to stay more focused,” he explained.The illness also taught Dhull some life lessons, which he feels will hold him in good stead.“That period taught me a lot about myself, my game and lifestyle. I also learnt how to grow and improve.”The 22-year-old felt the experience was also humbling. “That phase taught me how to handle situations. There will be ups and downs. I have to go through them and move on.”With the hectic season ahead, Dhull, who scored 444 runs in seven outings in the Ranji Trophy last season, is focused on making the best use of the opportunities that come his way.“All these opportunities are important for me. And I am taking it day by day. I just want to stay in the present. I don't want to think about the past or future. I want to grab the opportunities I have and enjoy them,” he said.