Ajinkya Bhai Asked Me If I Was Fine, I Just Had To Say Yes: Navdeep Saini On Fighting Through Injury In The Gabba Test

Navdeep Saini reveals the conversation he had with India’s interim skipper, Ajinkya Rahane during the fourth Test in Brisbane where he bowled despite carrying an injury. The right-arm pacer made his Test debut in the third Test against Australia in Sydney.

He picked 4 wickets in his debut game and was expected to do better in the Brisbane Test, which was the series decider. However, Saini’s match was cut short when after bowling just 7.5 overs in Australia’s first innings he lay on the ground.

Initially, it seemed he went to the ground because of the frustration that Ajinkya Rahane had put down a regulation catch in the slips off his bowling of Marnus Labuschagne. However, in quick time, everyone realized that Saini has sustained an injury.

The physio came on the ground and the seamer had to leave the field with a groin strain. Later he was taken for scans and it seemed that his Test match was done.

“I was fine and suddenly I got injured. I was wondering ‘why it is happening in such a crucial game and have got the opportunity to play after a long time’,” Navdeep Saini was quoted as saying by PTI.

I knew I might not get a stage like that again: Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini reveals that when Rahane asked him if he could bowl, the pacer without any hesitation agreed to take the field, despite knowing that he could further aggravate his injury. Saini, as brave as the team has been throughout the tour, delivered 5 overs in Australia’s second innings.

The 28-year-old  may not have taken any wicket, but what he did was give other pacers some rest. India won the Test match at the Gabba, consequently, the series and Saini’s brave-hearted risk didn’t go in vain.

“Ajinkya bhaiya asked me If I would be able to bowl with the injury, I just had to say yes. I just wished if could keep going with that injury and support my team.

“I knew I might not get a stage like that again. Captain asked me if I could do it. I was in pain but said I would do with whatever I could,” he further said.

Navdeep Saini is not selected for the forthcoming 4-match Test series against England at home as he will continue to recover from his groin injury. He could be seen in action in the limited-overs games against England, or later in the 14th edition of the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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