A day after uncapped Delhi pace bowler Navdeep Saini was included in India’s Test squad for the historic Afghanistan match in Bengaluru this week, his former captain Gautam Gambhir has tweeted strongly to two of the most prominent Delhi & Districts Cricket Association members; Chetan Chauhanand and Bishan Singh Bedi, underlining the fact that his backing of the 25-year-old has finally paid dividends.
Gambhir said: “My ‘condolences’ to few DDCA members, Bishan Bedi [and] Chetan Chauhan on selection of ‘outsider’ Navdeep Saini to India squad tagging the former India captain Bedi, former India opener Chauhan and the BCCI . I’m 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,” tweeted Gambhir on Tuesday.
Gambhir’s seems to be indicating against the long-standing criticism when he was locked in a bitter battle with DDCA over the selection of a player from another state; Saini who hails from Karnal in Haryana, and subsequent was included into the Delhi team. Chauhan and Bedi had objected to the move since Saini hails from Haryana. DDCA had to relent following a sharp criticism by players of the Delhi team.