Thread alert:
Navdeep Saini is making his Test debut. So, I tried refreshing my memory of his journey. So searched his name on my mail. This is what I found. It's more than just a bus ride from Karnal to the Delhi nets. Wrote my first story on him happened on Dec 13, 2013

It was a small breaking story a day before Delhi's Ranji match against Vidarbha played at the Roshanara ground. It was about how the senior players (led by Gautam Gambhir) went out of their way against the selectors (chief being Chetan Chauhan), even threatened to step aside

If this boy was not played. I remember hearing stories from all factions of DDCA how Gambhir went berserk in the selection meeting. I called up former India pacer Sanjeev Sharma, then assistant coach of Delhi team, and asked him who this kid and what the fuss was about.

I remember him telling: "Aap dekhe ho iss ladke ko. Sumit Narwal leke aata hain nets pe do saal se. Teekha ball dalta hain." It struck to me that I saw this frail guy troubling Gautam Gambhir, Unmukt Chand, Mithun Manhas and Sehwag in the nets. Sanjeev confirmed he was the same.

Selector Chauhan ceded to captain Gambhir's demands. But what followed the next morning was appalling. Just about when Saini was marking his run-up for his delivery, we were at the long-off boundary, Gaikwad ji (one of the most dedicated workers at DDCA) came to us with pamphlets

We ( @kushansarkar @bbhose) asked him what it was about. He said: "yeh ladka khel raha hain na toh log virodh kar rahe hain." The pamphlet said that all ex-cricketers and all of DDCA don't support this illegal act because the boy never played professional cricket in Delhi and that

Made him ineligible to play. We got worried that Saini himself could hear what was said about him. He was that close to the boundary. By afternoon, Bishan Singh Bedi, Kirti Azad got involved. In their official stance, Mr. Bedi claimed it's a mockery of the system and the captain

Was an autocrat. His claimed things like these was the reason for corruption in Delhi cricket. We went to Chauhan sir and asked if this was necessary. The boy is being vilified, bullied by his own association and seniors after being selected to play.

Saini probably didn't realize that he was playing at a level that led to playing for India next. Chauhan sir (also VP of DDCA) helplessly said: "I am all for promoting youngsters. But I am expected to protect the system. There's too much pressure from all ends."

Whenever we waved to Saini during Ranji seasons that followed, he would be coy and almost gave an apologetic smile. Seven winters later, he is at the SCG wearing the India Test cap. But he got all factions of Delhi cricket together for once even if that went against him.

Saini's story confirms the adage in Delhi cricket: Players become successful despite the system. He overcame filthy politics which was played by the 'custodians' of the game. He remains the gentle soul that took the new ball at Roshanara that chilly morning.