While it would be "disappointing" if the 13th edition of the IPL is further postponed, times are such that the public health must be a priority and cricket an afterthought, reiterated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and India pacer Navdeep Saini.
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“IPL is one of the biggest tournaments, so no doubt it will be disappointing if it doesn’t happen. But the kind of situation we are in, health is more important," Saini told Hindustan Times in an interview from his house in Karnal, Haryana.
"Before being cricketers, we are human beings. If we humans survive, only then we can think about cricket in future. So it’s not that big an issue that cricket is not happening," added the 27-year-old, who would've been looking forward to the opportunity to cement his place in India's T20I outfit in the World Cup year.
The country is on standstill under a 21-day lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is likely to be extended, but Navdeep is taking this as a rare opportunity to shift away from his regular schedule and spend more time with his family.
"Yes we are under lockdown but it’s not like we are in a prison. We are at home spending time with parents, which is rare and we should treat this with positivity," he said.
"The one good thing is I’m getting time for my family. We cricketers generally don’t get time," the fast bowler added. "The kind of situation we are in now, we can actually keep our family safe by staying close to them, making them aware, inform them on how to keep themselves safe from the virus."
At his home in Karnal, there is an angan (courtyard), where Saini first started practising fast bowling as a child. "Tab chhota tha jo jagah mil jati thi ball dalne k liye (Didn’t require much room to bowl when I was a kid)," said the promising quick, revisiting fond memories. "As far as bowling is concerned, I can never live without it, I’m doing it with tennis balls."
"Jitna bhi hota hai thik hai, feel aa jati hai aur halki practice bhi (Satisfied with whatever practice I’m getting, I just get the feel)."
“I have made all the arrangements at home. Have been training, doing exercise on a daily basis to keep myself fit," added Saini.
The tall speedster, who gets it to seam and bounce, has been deemed as the next big thing in Indian fast bowling by many in the circuit. But Saini understands his journey has only just begun and there is a long way to go.
"The important thing is to keep learning. At the international level, it’s a game of centimetres and millimetres and it doesn’t matter whether I’m playing an ODI or a T20I, the basics are the same, it’s all about the mindset."
"I have played nothing so far. There is a long way to go. That’s why I treat every match as my debut. Representing my country is the biggest thing, I perform treating every match as my last," he added.
(Inputs from HT)
