'My condolences to DDCA members Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan on selection of outsider Navdeep Saini to India squad,' says Gautam Gambhir.
Gautam Gambhir took a stinging dig at former India players Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan on Tuesday. Gambhir roasted the duo after Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini on Monday earned his maiden India call-up for the Afghanistan Test.
Bedi and Chauhan, members of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), had objected to Saini's selection in Delhi's Ranji Trophy team, terming him an 'outsider' who belonged to Haryana. Taking a dig at their comments, Gambhir took to Twitter and shared a piece of his mind.
"My ‘condolences’ to few DDCA members, @BishanBedi @ChetanChauhanCr on selection of ‘outsider’ Navdeep Saini to India squad. Am told black armbands are available in Bangalore too for INR 225 per roll!!! Sir, just remember Navdeep is an Indian first then comes his domicile @BCCI
Here's his tweet
About five years ago, Bedi had written a letter to then DDCA president Arun Jaitley, questioning Saini's inclusion in Delhi's squad for a Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha. "In today’s meeting to finalise the Ranji team, an outsider, Navdeep, a fast bowler from Karnal has been selected. This boy has played no cricket in Delhi for the past year, and it is inappropriate to bring in an outsider when there are some very good boys waiting to represent Delhi," Bedi wrote.
“I wonder if you can even do it. If a few years back, a whole selection panel could have been summarily dismissed for selecting another Navdeep (Tomar), we see no reason why current committee can’t be dismissed for overstepping their brief,” the letter added.
On Monday, Saini paid a glowing tribute to Gambhir for his support over the years. The talented fast-bowler credit the former India opener for his success. "Gautam bhaiya told me 'Jaise tennis ball se dalta hai, waise hi dal. Koi tension nahi. Baaki sab theek ho jayega (Just bowl like you bowl with a tennis ball. Everything will fall in place)'. I did what he told me and today I am here because of him. I don't know whenever I speak about Gautam Gambhir, I get emotional," said an elated Saini after receiving his maiden call-up to the Indian senior team for the Afghanistan Test.
Saini had managed to impress the key Delhi players and sneaked into the Delhi Ranji team despite initial resistance from the officials, who considered him an outsider from Haryana. Gambhir after watching him bowl for 15 minutes had decided that Saini was a rare talent, who should be groomed properly.
There were people who witnessed how Gambhir literally lost his cool during the net session when despite his repeated insistence, a Delhi selector (a distinguished former India opener) didn't even make a passing glance at Saini's bowling.
However, known for being stubborn, Gambhir got him into the team despite revolt from a notorious section of DDCA officials, who had distributed pamphlets, questioning Saini's eligibility, when he was marking his run-up for his first ever over in Ranji against Vidarbha.
"I remember every tiny little thing. I know what Gautam bhaiya had to go through to convince selectors that I was good enough to play for Delhi. Not to forget Ashish Nehra, Mithun Manhas, Sumit Narwal, who all stood by me. In fact, after first few matches, he (Gambhir) said that if I keep working hard at every practice session, I will play for India. He saw in me before I realised myself. Today when I look back about those days, I smile," said Saini.
(Inputs from PTI)
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 "Gautam Gambhir")
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