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Navdeep Saini has revealed the ‘inspiring’ yet pressurizing impact of Virat Kohli’s comeback on Delhi’s team during their Ranji Trophy match.
Virat Kohli and his cricket-mad fans. (Screengrab)
Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini spoke about the ‘inspirational’ and slightly-pressurising impact that Virat Kohli’s Ranji Trophy comeback had on the team for their dead-rubber clash against Railways, which began at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. He said Kohli’s intensity and ‘110 percent’ efforts buoyed his new teammates while the long line of crowd outside the ground made them realize that it wouldn’t be a usual match.
Over 16,000 people are estimated to have come to the stadium to watch the match, almost 100 times the usual audience for Ranji Trophy games in the capital in recent years. Kohli, who was making his comeback after 2012, drew most of the spectators and forced the Delhi and District Cricket Association into making special security arrangements. Even those were breached as a couple of invaders managed to enter the field.
“His energy is so high, automatically our energy level also goes up with him around. Then his effort, whenever he is batting, fielding or in the gym, his intensity, it is always 110 percent,” Saini said at the end of first day’s play, as quoted by PTI. “As we were coming in the morning we saw the long line and realised that this is going to be different…The fans would just pour in.”
“Ever since bhaiya joined our side, there has been a huge change in the team because he is a legend of the game, so to share a dressing room with him is a moment of pride for the boys in the team. So we all get inspired by seeing his intensity that remains so high. Seeing him has got intensity high too, which is a big plus point for us.”
Delhi bowled Railways out for 241 in the first inning and ended the day at 41/1, with Kohli yet to bat.
‘We don’t need to get carried away’: Railways’ Upendra
Kohli’s impact was felt in the opposition dressing room, too. Railways wicketkeeper Upendra Yadav, who top-scored in the first innings with a well-made 95, said his team made special plans to avoid getting carried away when Kohli comes out to bat on Friday.
“So how do we maintain composure when Virat bhaiya comes out to bat, we had our bowlers’ meeting and we have made our plans, but I will obviously not share with you guys. We don’t need to get carried away by the atmosphere. We just have to bowl in the good length area. We were inspired, but we are not under pressure. When a cricketer of this stature plays with you, then obviously you get excited,” Upendra said.