New Delhi: Confined to the four corners of his room for months, Yash Dhull’s life was finding it extremely difficult and frustrating. The 2022 U-19 World Cup-winning captain is bedridden after undergoing heart surgery and is slowly recovering while battling the persistent urge to return to the midfield and continue playing cricket.
After his family urged Duer to see a doctor, he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart. He had been experiencing various symptoms for some time – shortness of breath, persistent fatigue, low energy and sudden weight loss. As symptoms worsened, medical tests confirmed the condition, forcing the young cricketer to withdraw from the game and focus on treatment and recovery.
“Many times, after playing a complete match, like a national match, I would feel very tired and feel my fitness gradually declining. Later, when I was in the training camp, the problem was discovered right there. I got tested again and that’s when we found out what the problem was. Even the doctors were a bit surprised – they asked me why I was still playing. I was not aware of it earlier, but once it was detected, it meant there was an option to fix it,” Yash Durr told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
“There was no clear timeline at the time as there was no other option but surgery. My mindset was clear and my family also felt that doing it at the right time was a better option as the problem might get bigger later. For me, health is everything. My idea was simple – if I get healthy, everything else will slowly fall into place. It will take time, but things will fall into place. When you are not mentally or physically healthy and something goes wrong, you can’t move forward properly. So my focus was to get this done first and then see how things develop. Move on,” he said.
After the heart surgery, Duer was bedridden for several days. On the advice of doctors, he was told not to travel or play cricket for the time being.
But the determined youngster had just one question for the doctor – which he asked almost every day: “Main kab se cricket khel sakta hoon?” (When can I start playing cricket again?)
“It was a tough time. I was eager to get back in the middle. When I started running again, none of it happened. Even completing a round was very difficult. Slowly, things started to get better. I even tried to do DPL in the first year, but it was impossible because my heart rate and blood pressure were very high. It was very dangerous because my blood pressure could suddenly spike, so I had to back off. Then I started preparing for the season and praying for recovery. Things gradually got better. If you rush them, they won’t work. When you take it step by step, it takes time but eventually things will come back,” said Yash Dhull, who led India to the 2022 U-19 World Cup title after defeating England in the final.
Duer’s next target: Senior World Cup
Durr is one of the few captains to lead India to the U-19 World Cup title.
India has won the U-19 ODI World Cup six times in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022 and 2026. Winning captains include Mohammad Kaif (2000), Virat Kohli (2008), Umqat Chand (2012), Prithvi Shaw (2018), Dool (2022) and Ayush Mehat (2026).
For Duer, however, the Under-19 World Cup is more than just a memory. His next goal is clear – to represent India in the Senior World Cup.
“I have spoken to players like Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma and Axar Patel. I am very close to them and you learn a lot just by being with them. You can observe what they do and how they go about their work, which helps. They always tell me to be prepared so that when an opportunity comes, you don’t miss it,” he said.
Due to health issues and surgeries, Durr played for Delhi Capitals of the Indian Premier League from 2022 to 2024 but could not be sold in the 2026 IPL auction.
“Yes, you do feel a little disappointed, but at the same time you can’t get caught up in that feeling. You have to get back to your work. If you stick to one thing, you won’t be able to focus on the opportunities ahead. Right now, I’m waiting for my chance to see what opportunities come my way. Whatever happens, I’m preparing for it and I’m ready. Anything can happen in life – things can change at any time – so I’m preparing for that,” Durr said.
“My dream is to play in the senior World Cup. I am sure I will play one day. Every cricketer dreams of representing India in the World Cup,” he said.