'Good job' - When Rahul Dravid praised 18-year-old net bowler Yatish Singh

Yatish Singh, an 18-year-old off-spinning all-rounder from the Delhi Under-19 team, was called up to bowl to India and South Africa players in the recently-concluded T20I series. Yatish was having lunch with his mother when he got a call from a Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) official to tell him that he had been picked as a net bowler and would be bowling to both Indian and South African batsmen. The 18-year-old was elated but he knew the task was a challenging one, especially for someone who was still playing junior level cricket. Sleepless nights, thoughts of being hammered by the batters, especially by the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, being pulled up by the legendary Rahul Dravid - these thoughts followed Yatish around after the call from the DDCA official. He was called three days before the series and was explained the dos and the don'ts. Yatish found his name in almost every net session itinerary as he was the only off-spinner in the lot. He was part of the Delhi Under-19 cricket team and had represented the state in the Cooch Behar Trophy and Vinoo Mankad Trophy and had impressed everyone with his off-spin.

Yatish SinghThe Delhi-lad was one of six net bowlers picked to prepare the Indian and South African batters - apart from Yatish there were two right-arm pacers, one leg spinner and two left-arm pacers. "I was really happy when I got the call for the net bowler duty. It was a big assignment for someone who has just started his domestic career. It was a big opportunity for me. The environment of the Indian dressing room was amazing. All the players were very cooperative. They told me what I was doing right and wrong," Yatish told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview. FIRST DAY IN