Former Delhi Daredevils Captain and Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has come very hard on two former Indian cricketers and Delhi Cricket board (DDCA) officials for referring to Navdeep Saini as an ‘outsider’.
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It was a day of joy for Navdeep Saini when he was recently included in the Indian Test squad for the match against Afghanistan after Mohammed Shami failed to qualify the Yo Yo Test.
Gambhir has now slammed Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan for the step motherly treatment towards Navdeep Saini. Both Gautam Gambhir and Bishan Singh Bedi are famous for their candid comments and when a matter involves both of them, some heated comments are certainly guaranteed.
The incident has its roots in 2013 when Navdeep Saini was first selected in the Delhi Ranji team. There was a lot of furore by former cricketers and DDCA officials who were not particularly impressed as Saini belonged to Haryana. Bishan Singh Bedi had even termed Saini as an ‘outsider’ in a letter written to the DDCA.
Chetan Chauhan on the other hand, who was a selector of the Delhi Ranji team, kept sidelining Saini despite his consistent performances and backing of the then captain Gautam Gambhir.
Once he was selected in the Indian test squad, Gautam Gambhir brought back those memories as he posted on Twitter, also tagging Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan.
Gambhir wrote: “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.”
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
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 12, 2018
Saini has played for the Delhi Ranji team under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir and self admittedly, the youngster has learnt a lot from the veteran opening batsman. He has also credited his skipper for the maiden call-up to the national side, saying “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.”
With Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Shardul Thakur already in the ranks, Saini may not get a game, but the experience of being around in the dressing room with the international cricketers will certainly do him a world of good.
