The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand on Friday night. One of the surprising omissions from the squad is Yash Dayal, the same player who was part of the Indian Test squad for the series against Bangladesh but didn’t make his debut. His exclusion is a relief for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as it allows them to retain him as an uncapped player ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention deadline.
Yash Dayal misses out on debut once again
Dayal, who was part of the Indian squad during the Bangladesh series, failed to get his debut cap. Instead, he was named in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) playing XI for their Ranji Trophy match against Bengal earlier on the same day, indicating that he wasn’t in the plans for the Test series against New Zealand.
Many believe that the Indian team doesn’t need Dayal in the squad, but reports suggest that his recent injury is the reason behind him not being included even in the travelling reserves. He injured his shoulder badly on the first day against Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy clash.
How Yash Dayal’s exclusion benefits RCB
Yash Dayal’s exclusion from the Indian team comes as good news for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). As per BCCI rules, Dayal cannot debut for the national team in any format before 31st October, keeping him uncapped ahead of the IPL retention deadline. This is important for RCB, as each team is allowed to retain one or two uncapped players in their squad. Since Dayal has not played for India yet, he can be retained without falling under the higher salary caps of Rs. 18 or 14 crore, and RCB can retain him for Rs. 4 crore, a 20% pay cut from the Rs. 5 crore they paid last year.
Dayal’s Key Role in RCB’s 2024 Turnaround
Yash Dayal played a crucial role in RCB’s stunning comeback during the 2024 IPL season, taking 15 wickets in 14 matches. One of his standout performances was dismissing MS Dhoni in the final over of a nail-biting win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which helped RCB secure a spot in the playoffs. After a disappointing season with Gujarat Titans (GT) earlier, RCB gave Dayal a platform for redemption, making it unlikely that he will turn down their retention offer.
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