Veteran India opener Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday (June 12) took a cheeky dig at DDCA members over the selection of pacer Navdeep Saini in India’s Test squad. Naina was called in as Mohammed Shami’s replacement or the one-off Test against Afghanistan after the latter failed to clear the Yo-Yo endurance Test on Monday (June 11).
In particular, Gambhir targetted the old DDCA members namely – Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the southpaw 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
It is worth mentioning here that Bedi had written a letter to former DDCA president Arun Jaitley some years ago, questioning Saini's selection 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 had written in his letter to Jaitley, as per the quotes in DNA.
“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 further added.
Saini, who was the star behind Delhi's victory over Bengal in Ranji Trophy 2017-18 semi-final, has often credited Gambhir for his success in domestic cricket.
“I owe this life and my success to Gautam Gambhir. I was a nobody and Gautam bhaiyaa did everything for me,” Saini had told PTI in December 2017.
As far as Saini’s credentials in domestic cricket is concerned – the 25-year-old has taken 96 wickets at an incredible average of 25.04 in 31 first-class matches. He has also claimed 31 wickets at an average of 29.67 in 20 List A games.
