New Delhi. When Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur walks into the Indian dressing room for his possible national debut during the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, it won’t exactly be a newcomer’s story. It would be a story of perseverance built on nearly a decade of domestic hard work, fueled by the ambition of a father who sadly did not live to see this dream come true. Thakur, 27, recently got the most important phone call of his professional life while waiting to collect his luggage at the Nagpur airport after returning from India A’s tour of Sri Lanka. This was to inform him of his first India selection for the Zimbabwe tour, which will consist of three T20 Internationals from 23 to 26 July.
“To be honest, I was not expecting anything because I had just returned from the Sri Lanka tour. I never thought that I would get a call so soon,” Yash Thakur told PTI in an exclusive interview. His List A debut came in 2017 and he is closing in on 100 wickets after 57 appearances in the circuit. He has appeared in 74 T20s, including 22 IPL games for two different franchises. Apart from this, he also has acquaintanceship with Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel during his IPL stint with Lucknow Super Giants.
Fame is the gift of domestic cricket
Thakur can hardly be considered a novice. He is indeed a perfect product of the Indian system, having played Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare, after which he has been included in the BCCI’s targeted ‘list of fast bowlers’. Regular India A assignments reassured him that the dream was getting closer. A dream that was not just his. His father, Ravi Singh Thakur, was deeply invested in it, but did not live to see its accomplishment due to a fatal cardiac arrest in 2023. However, Thakur’s mother Kajal and his elder sister stood firmly with him after this big loss, which helped him move forward.
The goal was to fulfill father’s dream
Thakur admitted that it is still difficult to process the emotions. “It still doesn’t feel real. I still haven’t been able to process it. It will take some time to understand. Everyone at home is happy and all those emotions are still going on,” the bowler said. “His dream was to see me represent India. This call-up is the fulfillment of that dream.” Describing the toughest phase of his life, Thakur recalled how his father’s sudden death had devastated him. “I was in Nagpur at that time. It was a very difficult time for me. Initially, it took me a lot of time to deal with the loss.” “(But) my father always told me that no matter what happens in life, I should never lose sight of my dream. He always said that nothing should affect that dream. Those words stayed with me and helped me move forward.
eyes on the floor
Yash Thakur has worked hard for the last eight years without any complaints. “Ever since I started getting regular opportunities for India A, I felt I was one step closer to playing for India. But I also knew that whether it was domestic cricket or India A, I had to keep performing consistently if I wanted to make my dream come true.”
IPL made me stronger
Having played 22 IPL games so far for LSG and Punjab Kings, taking 27 wickets, including one five-wicket haul, Thakur believes the tournament changed him into a mentally stronger bowler. “IPL helped me develop the right mindset. It teaches you to be fearless because you are bowling against the best batsmen in the world. You plan against international players and compete with them regularly. It gives you confidence and prepares you for international cricket.
Morkel helped
He also credited current India bowling coach and former LSG support staff Morne Morkel for broadening his understanding of fast bowling. “When I joined the IPL setup, I met Morne for the first time. He helped me understand the technical aspects of fast bowling and how to read different wickets. More importantly, he taught me what the mindset of a fast bowler should be. Those lessons help me even today.
