“In all that seriousness, everyone forgot I was injured” - India’s 2021 Gabba hero recalls historic win ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Team India pacer Navdeep Saini opened up on the iconic win at The Gabba during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series. The right-arm bowler featured in the Test as a rookie in international cricket following an injury crisis to the frontline bowling unit.
Saini made his debut in the Sydney Test that preceded the series finale in Brisbane. The pacer picked up four wickets in the Test, before featuring in the subsequent encounter as part of an inexperienced bowling unit which included Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur, and Washington Sundar.
The pacer suffered an injury on Day 1 of the final Test, walking off the field after bowling 7.5 overs. He lacked rhythm in the second innings, bowling five overs and conceding 32 runs in the process. Not in a shape to go out to bat, the team needed his assistance when India were reduced to 325-7, within touching distance of the target.
Saini was not required to face a ball as Pant polished off the remaining runs with a boundary. He recalled how he was under painkillers and taped up when he arrived at the crease, unable to run at full throttle.
"That was such a funny moment. The atmosphere was incredibly intense and serious. Everyone knew I couldn’t run because of the pain, and the match situation was so critical. It was the final stages of the game, and we had a couple of bowlers left to bat after me," Saini said in an exclusive interview with the Times of India.
"In all that seriousness, everyone forgot that I was injured. All they saw was that the tailenders had to go in and contribute some runs. Ravi Shastri sir said, ‘Saini, put on your pads.’ The tension was so high that I just went along with it. I thought, 'This is my chance; I’ll contribute somehow — it’ll be fun'. Nobody remembered I was injured or that I couldn’t run. And I didn’t remind anyone either because I felt it was my time to step up. I quickly put on the pads and went out to the field," he added.
The memorable Gabba Test still marks Saini's last red-ball appearance for India. He went on to feature in the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021, and is currently a part of the Indian squad in Australia as a travelling reserve.
"I didn’t tell him I was in pain or couldn’t run properly" - Navdeep Saini on his pitchside chat at the Gabba with Rishabh Pant
Navdeep Saini had the luxury of a red-hot Rishabh Pant at the other end, who was unbeaten on 85, and on strike, when he arrived to bat at No.9. The wicket-keeper batter wanted to be the one to finish things off, and he did so with a boundary down the ground.
Pant had rushed for a couple or more after beating the fielder at close range, leading to Saini also running in a full sprint from the other end.
"As soon as I got out there, Rishabh told me, ‘Don’t worry, just run when I call for it.’ I didn’t tell him I was in pain or couldn’t run properly. I just said, ‘Okay, I’ll run when you call.’ Then, when Rishabh hit a shot and called for a run, I felt no pain at all in that moment. The adrenaline was so high that I just ran as if nothing was wrong. That moment was so special; I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort — it was as if everything else faded away," Saini added
India are currently in Brisbane for the third Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series Test. The match is scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 14.