Three days before India lifted its first Cricket World Cup trophy at Lord’s, Dishant Yagnik was born in the city of Banswara in Rajasthan on June 22, 1983. It was also the day when the Indian cricket team won its semi-final match against England.
Yagnik was a wicketkeeper-batter who played for Rajasthan in the domestic circuit for close to 15 years till 2017 before he decided to call it a day. Amidst this, Yagnik made his debut for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in 2011 and played four seasons under the likes of legends like Shane Warne and Rahul Dravid.
Yagnik is currently the fielding coach of the Royals in the IPL.
Though Yagnik’s record in the IPL was not something that garnered many eye-balls, he fitted perfectly to Aristotle’s famous saying ‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts’.
The southpaw had only 176 runs from 19 visits to the crease, averaging a touch below 15 and with a highest score of 34.
But Yagnik had a say in some of the Royals’ most memorable wins in 2012 and 2013, helping the team finish off games in tense chases. A lack of international experience or the presence of big names in the opposition did not bother him, as he successfully showcased his street smartness and unorthodox methods to the larger world.
Here is a look at some of his most important innings for the Royals in the IPL.
Leaving Steyn stunned
In IPL 2012, the Royals were chasing a daunting 197 in a match against the Deccan Chargers at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The Royals raced past 60 within the first six overs but endured a mini-collapse, as they slid from 110/1 to 135/4 in the 16th over.
Though Brad Hodge was looking in good touch, it seemed he would run out of partners at the other end. The Royals needed 25 off 11 balls when Yagnik walked in. Hodge hit 12 runs in the penultimate over to keep the Royals in the hunt.
Yagnik was only facing his second ball when Dale Steyn was steaming in during the last over. He smashed the South African pacer for two boundaries off consecutive balls to seal the deal with two balls to spare.
The relatively unknown Yagnik left the opposition, including the South African pacer who finished with figures of 0/44 in 3.4 overs, stunned. Yagnik turned out to be the unlikely hero that evening finishing unbeaten on nine off three balls as the Royals scripted a five-wicket win.
Interestingly, the Royals’ current Head Coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara was the captain of the Chargers team back then.
Demystifying Sunil Narine
Yagnik’s next chance to shine came in IPL 2013 in the Royals’ game against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Jaipur. Batting first, the Royals were put in a spot of bother as they crawled to 114/5 with two overs to go. Yagnik was in the middle along with Hodge.
Sunil Narine, who had impressive figures of 2/11 from his first three overs, was ready to bowl the penultimate over. Once again, Yagnik did not allow the reputation of the bowler to get to his head.
The left-handed Yagnik blasted Narine for a six and then reverse-swept him for four to collect 18 runs, together with Hodge, off the mystery spinner. In fact, this was Narine’s most expensive over in the IPL till then.
Yagnik was run out in the final over for 16 off 11 balls as Hodge helped the Royals to a respectable total of 144. In the end, Yagnik’s late burst with the bat proved the game-changer as the Royals put it across KKR winning the contest by 19 runs.
Dishant Yagnik’s highest IPL score
Yagnik’s home ground during the 2013 season was also witness to his highest score in the IPL which came against Mumbai Indians. Batting first, Yagnik was promoted to number three by skipper Rahul Dravid to keep the Royals’ scoring rate high. The move paid rich rewards.
Yagnik scored 34 off just 24 balls including four boundaries and a six. He added 53 for the second wicket with Ajinkya Rahane to power the Royals to 179/3 in their batting essay.
In return, MI folded up for 92 as the Royals completed a comfortable 87-run win over the visitors.
With Brad Hodge, once again!
Yagnik had another breathtaking knock in IPL 2013 against MI in the Qualifier 2 match at the Eden Gardens. The Royals were struggling at 110/6 at the end of 16 overs after electing to bat first.
Yagnik, who had most of his memorable moments for the Royals while batting with Brad Hodge, once again joined the Australian to put together 55 runs in the last four overs to help the Royals to a competitive score of 165/6.
Yagnik smashed five boundaries and remained unbeaten on 31 off just 17 balls to give the Royals a semblance of hope to qualify for the final. But Yagnik’s superlative effort with the bat could not save the Royals, as MI won the match by four wickets with a ball to spare.
