Former India cricketers and two of Delhi cricket’s stalwarts Gautam Gambhir and Bishan Singh Bedi are not going to give up on the war of words which was triggered with respect to Navdeep Saini’s selection in the Delhi Ranji team.
As Navdeep Saini made a terrific debut for the Indian team in the first T20I against West Indies. Apart from picking up two wickets in his first over, Saini ended up with figures of 3/17 and was named Player of the Match as India registered a four-wicket win.
Gautam Gambhir tweeted congratulating the right-arm fast bowler “Kudos Navdeep Saini on ur India debut. U already have 2 wkts even before u have bowled— @BishanBedi & @ChetanChauhanCr. Their middle stumps are gone seeing the debut of a player whose cricketing obituary they wrote even before he stepped on the field, shame!!! @BCCI”
Apparently, Bishan Bedi and Chetan Chauhan had been opposed to Navdeep Saini as he hails from Haryana and was seen as an outsider. Also, Saini had not played any grade cricket for Delhi and Gambhir pushed for Saini’s selection in the team, upsetting Bedi and Chauhan.
However, Bedi, one of the best left-arm spinners of his time said, “I don't believe that I have to stoop to conquer like Gautam Gambhir. I would rather not react to his comments on twitter. I have never said a negative thing about Navdeep Saini. Also, I believe if someone has made it, it's his credit, not any Tom, Dick or Harry's," Bedi told PTI.
He further said, "Who am I? I wasn't in any position of DDCA. I see that he (Gambhir) hasn't sobered even after becoming a Member of Parliament," Bedi said referring to the first time MP from East Delhi. The kid is outstanding. But I have only seen him on TV. Also, he has just played one game for India. We should wait for some more time."
Now Gautam Gambhir couldn’t keep himself from replying to the great man and tweeted, “???? @BishanBedi talking about “stooping to conquer” ????, man who was pushing his undeserving son for selection or @ChetanChauhanCr bent on getting his nephew in DDCA team. Shame. Also reproducing Bedi’s comments on Navdeep in a protest letter of 2013. Read on”