SMAT 2025-26: ‘Had belief that my strokes would come off and game would change,’ says Delhi’s Yash Dhull after win against TN
Opener Yash Dhull (71, 46b, 4×4, 4×6) was the fulcrum of Delhi’s batting as it chased down 199 against Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group D match in Ahmedabad on Friday, sealing a six-wicket victory.
He built his innings through three successive partnerships: 52 with Priyansh Arya up top, 58 with Nitish Rana to consolidate, and 61 with Ayush Badoni to accelerate.
“The black-soil wicket was playing a little better in the first innings, while the ball was coming (on to the bat) a little late in the second innings. So, Priyansh and I were talking about taking the game as deep as we can, which was later echoed by Rana bhaiya as well. Even when I had a partnership with Badoni, we discussed the same. I had the belief that my strokes would come off and the game would change,” he said after the win.
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His strokes clicked as he seamlessly shifted gears alongside Badoni, transforming the tempo of the chase. During that phase, he took on the experienced spinners, Sai Kishore and Varun Chakaravarthy, with authority.
The 23-year-old said he put in extensive practice during the latest DPL (Delhi Premier League) season and entered this tournament “with the same mindset and approach.”
With two hundreds and three fifties, Dhull amassed 435 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 167.31 for the Central Delhi Kings in the 2025 DPL season.
Reflecting on his 2024 IPL stint with the Delhi Capitals, Dhull credited then-coach Ricky Ponting with instilling the confidence to trust his game.
Published on Nov 28, 2025
