The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (June 11) announced the squad for the upcoming limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka next month with a few fresh faces in Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Rana, K Gowtham, and Chetan Sakariya.
Among them, Sakariya was one of the most exciting talents who made a name for himself with his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) despite losing his brother before the tournament and after the T20 league; the young pacer’s father lost his life to COVID-19.
After he earned his maiden call-up to the Indian cricket team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, Sakariya said he is missing his late father a lot today as he wanted him to play for India.
Sakariya told The Indian Express after his India selection: “I wish my father had been here to see this. He wanted me to play for India. I miss him a lot today. God has made me see ups and downs in a span of one year. It has been a very emotional ride so far.”
The young pacer further added, “I lost my younger brother and a month later I got a big IPL contract. I lost my father last month, and god has handed me an India call-up. I was in the hospital for seven days when my father was battling for his life. This is an irreplaceable void. This one is for my late father and for my mother, who allowed me to continue with my cricket.”
On being asked was he expecting an India call so early, Sakariya said: “The way people were talking about me after the IPL, I was thinking that now at least I have a chance to be a net bowler for the Indian team. I never expected that I will straightaway be picked in the main squad for Sri Lanka. Now it has happened, I will give my best.”
He also said his Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson expected him to be called for the limited-overs series featuring three ODIs and as many as T20Is in Sri Lanka next month.
Sakariya signed off by saying, “Sanju Bhai was showing more confidence in me than anyone else. In fact, he told me during the IPL that the way I was bowling, an India cap wasn’t far away.”
(Indian Express inputs)
