Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan is the new India Under-19s cricket captain BHOPAL: In 2020, a boy asked for a cricket bat of premium willow. The Covid lockdown had shut down the family’s civil construction business in Chambal and it was a luxury they could ill afford, but his father took a loan and bought one for Rs 65,000.It was an expensive gamble. But that “KL Rahul” series bat is now repaying the loan, not in rupees but in runs and resolve. And the boy from the badlands of Chambal, once known for its dacoits, is the new India Under-19s cricket captain.Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan, a promising uncapped cricketer and his family’s youngest member (he turns 18 in Nov), leads India against Sri Lanka in the upcoming series.It was early 2020 when Yashbardhan, already showing promise as a batsman, asked for the bat. His innocent request initially put frowns on the faces of the family elders. Their business contracts had just been cancelled. Every penny counted.His father, Anami Singh Chauhan, had then described the purchase as “our biggest bet on his dream”. The spanking new willow fetched bountiful returns: Yash amassed 1,300 runs with it in the Under-13 Kanmadikar Trophy in 2021, drawing the attention of selectors and coaches.Every boundary off that bat felt like a small repayment for all the anxious nights that had preceded the purchase, the family said.”I told Yashbardhan to always keep that KL Rahul series bat with him. That bat effectively set him on his cricketing journey,” said an elated Chauhan, currently in the flour mill business in Gwalior.The bat became talismanic. Yash carried it around like an accessory, from practice to matches, from small grounds to tournament halls, a symbol of the family’s sacrifice and hope. While teammates occasionally borrowed his gloves or pads, the willow was never loaned.When a senior Ranji player once asked him if he could use it, Yashbardhan refused. Not out of arrogance, the family insisted, but out of reverence for what the bat represented: a father’s faith in his son in a time of crisis.”This bat carries my deepest emotions. I can never share this willow with anyone,” Yashbardhan told TOI.Now, national duty calls as Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed him U-19 captain. Selectors cited his consistent run-scoring, temperament under pressure, and quiet respect within the dressing room as reasons for putting the weight of leadership on his young shoulders.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosExplained: India’s Telegram Ban Ahead of NEET Re-Exam; Necessary Step or Pointless Move?Football Legend’s Kolkata Tour Mismanagement Still Under Scanner; Accountability Questions GrowHow Jewar Airport Changed The Region: MLA Dhirendra Singh On Jobs, Investment And GrowthPunjab CM Bhagwant Mann Claims Forensic Reports Vindicate Him In ‘Sacrilege’ Video RowUBT Crisis Deepens as Raut Claims Rebel MPs Got More Cash and Moved to Safe LocationBJP Leader Burnt Alive, 2 Others Killed Over Sand Mining Clash In ChhattisgarhCalcutta High Court Refuses Interim Relief to TMC, Ritabrata Banerjee Stays Leader of OppositionSix Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Stay Away From Delhi Meet, Uddhav Camp on Edge As Defection Buzz IntensifiesVaiko-Vijay Meetings Trigger Buzz Over MDMK’s Future In Tamil Nadu’s Changing PoliticsModi-Starmer Confirm July 15 Launch Of Trade Pact Projected To Boost Bilateral Commerce123Photostories9 high-protein air fryer snacks for office tiffinThere are only 4 American states that start with the letter ‘A’; here’s why they’re famous among travellers5 famous Vande Bharat train routes in North India: Travel time, destinations and fareFrom Langra to Bombay (which has no Mumbai connection): Famous mangoes of India and why they are called soSkip the crowds and explore this offbeat mountain escape with rainbow viewsJapanese proverb of the day: “Life without endeavour is like entering a jewel mine and coming out…”5 relationship myths that can easily destroy a marriageCould these small changes be Alzheimer’s? Doctors share the signs families often missCan’t sleep? American neurosurgeon shares 5 simple tips that actually workMorning puffy face: Expert says it might be a sign of inflammation – how to fix it123Hot PicksAaron Rodger ExCA TopperLionel MessiVaibhav SooryavanshiKannur University FYUGP TrialNFL Trade RumorsThomas TuchelWBJEE admit cardMP board second resultTop TrendingCristiano RonaldoIshan KishanShubham GillFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeDownload Optifine for Minecraft 26.2Aman SangerCBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Eknath ShindeDevajit Saikia
BHOPAL: In 2020, a boy asked for a cricket bat of premium willow. The Covid lockdown had shut down the family’s civil construction business in Chambal and it was a luxury they could ill afford, but his father took a loan and bought one for Rs 65,000.It was an expensive gamble. But that “KL Rahul” series bat is now repaying the loan, not in rupees but in runs and resolve. And the boy from the badlands of Chambal, once known for its dacoits, is the new India Under-19s cricket captain.Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan, a promising uncapped cricketer and his family’s youngest member (he turns 18 in Nov), leads India against Sri Lanka in the upcoming series.It was early 2020 when Yashbardhan, already showing promise as a batsman, asked for the bat. His innocent request initially put frowns on the faces of the family elders. Their business contracts had just been cancelled. Every penny counted.His father, Anami Singh Chauhan, had then described the purchase as “our biggest bet on his dream”. The spanking new willow fetched bountiful returns: Yash amassed 1,300 runs with it in the Under-13 Kanmadikar Trophy in 2021, drawing the attention of selectors and coaches.Every boundary off that bat felt like a small repayment for all the anxious nights that had preceded the purchase, the family said.“I told Yashbardhan to always keep that KL Rahul series bat with him. That bat effectively set him on his cricketing journey,” said an elated Chauhan, currently in the flour mill business in Gwalior.The bat became talismanic. Yash carried it around like an accessory, from practice to matches, from small grounds to tournament halls, a symbol of the family’s sacrifice and hope. While teammates occasionally borrowed his gloves or pads, the willow was never loaned.When a senior Ranji player once asked him if he could use it, Yashbardhan refused. Not out of arrogance, the family insisted, but out of reverence for what the bat represented: a father’s faith in his son in a time of crisis.“This bat carries my deepest emotions. I can never share this willow with anyone,” Yashbardhan told TOI.Now, national duty calls as Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed him U-19 captain. Selectors cited his consistent run-scoring, temperament under pressure, and quiet respect within the dressing room as reasons for putting the weight of leadership on his young shoulders.
