Exclusive | ‘This moment belongs to my father’: Yash Thakur on first India invite, Shreyas Iyer, Morne Morkel and Ricky Ponting

Yash Thakur (Image credit: Instagram) NEW DELHI: Nagpur airport was buzzing with passengers rushing to collect their luggage and catch connecting flights. Amidst the chaos, Yash Thakur’s phone rang with the call he had dreamed of all his life – his first call in India.The 27-year-old fast bowler had just landed in Nagpur when he learned that he has been selected in India’s squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe. It was a reward for years of hard work in domestic cricket and the IPL. But for Yash, it was more than just fulfilling his own dream. It was to fulfill the dream of his late father Ravi Singh Thakur. Yash’s father died after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest in 2023, just a few months before his son’s career began to reach new heights.“It was my father’s dream. And I am very thankful to him because from day one until he was with us, he always supported me. If he was here today, he would be extremely happy,” said Yash. Tech Word News. com.“He has always been my biggest inspiration. He has done so much for me and my career. I have seen countless sacrifices for me. This moment belongs to him and is dedicated to him,” he said.

Meeting Morne Morkel

Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel will be a familiar face waiting for Yash in the Indian dressing room.The two worked together at Lucknow Super Giants before Yash moved to Punjab Kings and the pacer says the former South African fast bowler helped him improve both technically and mentally.“When I was at LSG, I learned a lot of the technical aspects of fast bowling from Morne Morkel. He has so much international experience. I learned from him the technical side of bowling, how to play to my strengths, how to trust my skills at different wickets and how to take wickets. We shared a very good bond at LSG, so I’m really excited to meet him again and discuss these things and continue to learn from him. Since making his List A debut in 2017, Yash has taken nearly 100 wickets in 57 matches, played 74 T20s and featured in 22 IPL games for Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings, taking 27 wickets, including a five-wicket haul.“He always told me, ‘You have a good cricketing brain, but always think about which delivery suits your strengths on a particular pitch and which balls can help you get wickets.’ He made bowling very simple. Before each spell we discussed which deliveries would be most effective on that wicket and how I could take wickets there,” said Yash.“During my first IPL season in 2023, he helped me a lot in every match I played. Those discussions with him shaped the way I think. My mindset is always about wickets. Pressure situations actually excite me because that’s when I want to take wickets and help my team win. Bowling under pressure motivates me even more,” he said.

Learning from Shreyas Iyer

Yash is one of the three players who received India’s first T20I call-up for the tour of Zimbabwe. The other two newcomers are Prabhsimran Singh and Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma.If Yash makes his international debut, he will once again play under Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer. Yash, who has already spent a season under Iyer in the IPL, believes the Indian skipper’s biggest asset is the confidence he gives his bowlers. The Vidarbha pacer is now eager to start his international journey under Iyer’s leadership.“Shreyas is an amazing captain. I learned a lot from him. Yes, he is an aggressive captain and always wants his team to stay on top. He has his own unique way of working. I always say he is a bowlers’ captain. He talks to the bowlers first, discusses the plans with them and gives them complete freedom. I played under him in the IPL and now that I am back under his captaincy, the 7-7 will help me a lot in the Indian team.”

Ponting’s winning mindset

Yash also spent the IPL under Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting, whose influence went far beyond tactics.Asked if Ponting is a tough taskmaster, Yash said the Australian legend’s never-give-up attitude and his ability to inspire confidence set him apart.“The biggest lesson I learned from Ricky sir is that no matter the situation, you should always think about winning. You should always think about how you can win the game and help the team win. That’s his mindset. No matter what happens or what the situation is, you should always focus on winning. That winning mindset should never change. Watching him taught me that no matter what happens, you always have to think for the team all the best to win.” he said.Yash also recalled Ponting’s dressing room speech which perfectly encapsulated his mindset.Punjab Kings were chasing 265 against Delhi Capitals earlier this IPL season after KL Rahul’s unbeaten 152 powered Delhi to 264/2.Many in the dressing room felt that the goal was out of reach. Ponting, however, had a different message.“When we got back to the dressing room, Sir Ricky said just one thing: ‘I don’t care what it is. From the first ball, our mindset should be that whatever the score is, we’re going to chase it.’ And finally we chased down the target, won the match and created an IPL record for the most successful run in this game,” said Yash.“That’s his way of thinking. He raised the confidence of every single member of the team. We were so happy to win that game. It was really memorable,” he added.Yash believes Iyer shares the same fearless attitude.“The same goes for Shreyas. His mindset is exactly the same. Whatever the situation, we have to play to win and secure the victory,” the 27-year-old said.