Delhi Premier League 2024: Former India U-19 Captain Yash Dull Returns To Cricket After Major Heart Surgery

New Delhi: Yash Dull,  21-year-old cricketer who has captained India’s U-19 team, is making his return to the cricket field in the Delhi Premier League after undergoing heart surgery earlier this year.
He had an inherited heart condition that required medical assistance with surgical intervention, which was addressed after being discovered during a routine check-up at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
The ongoing Delhi Premier League has been a roller-coaster ride for Yash Dhull so far. He started the season as captain for Central Delhi Kings before handing over the armband to Jonty Sidhu. Dhull featured as an Impact Player, changed his batting position and even took a rest from the side’s fifth fixture of the T20 league.
The former India U-19 skipper managed just 93 runs at an average of under 20 and a strike rate of 113.41 in five innings. The commentators mentioned how he was rusty in the tournament and they also felt like the youngster is not 100% fit. After an ordinary outing on Tuesday, the right-hander said he is returning after a recovery bit and didn’t dwell on it.
“Kuch cheeze hui hai past mai… mai recover karke aaya hu. Thoda time lag raha hai but mai positive hu aur apne game ke liye 100% duga (certain things have happened in the past, and I have returned after a recovery. It’s taking time but I am positive and will give 100% for my game),” Dhull had said after the afternoon fixture vs East Delhi Riders where he was dismissed for 8 off 11 balls.
The 21-year-old’s life has been tough in the last couple of months. Dhull was attending a camp in Bengaluru a couple of months back when the medical team, during their routine check-up, spotted an anomaly.
“During the NCA check-up, the team, after consulting with the set of doctors, advised him to undergo surgery for the hole in his heart. He was attending a camp with the rest of the emerging players a couple of months back in Bengaluru,” says Dhull’s childhood coach Pradeep Kochar.
Dhull’s father Vijay added that it was a condition by birth and he underwent a surgical procedure to fix the issue.
“It wasn’t anything serious. The hole in the heart was a condition from birth and the NCA team advised a minor surgical procedure. He underwent that in Delhi only and the BCCI continued to keep a check on him during the period,” says Dhull’s father.
“The NCA has given him the certificate of fitness, so there shouldn’t be an issue in any of the formats going forward. During the DPL, he took a rest from one of the games because the humidity was very high. Even going forward, there shouldn’t be any problem for him to play the Ranji Trophy and the longer formats,” says Kochar.
Dhull’s journey back to the cricket field after heart surgery has highlighted his courage and dedication. As he continues to work on his fitness and form, the cricketing fraternity remains hopeful that he will soon return to his best, fulfilling the immense potential he has shown at a young age.