“I wasn’t in best frame of mind as Uday wasn’t scoring runs, but he would tell me, ‘papa, don’t worry, runs will come’
Uday Saharan en route his 81 v SA on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images
During the U-19 Challenger tournament last year, India skipper Uday Saharan wasn’t scoring runs and father Sanjeev was getting anxious as the national selection committee was about to pick the squad for junior Asia Cup.
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“I wasn’t in best frame of mind as Uday wasn’t scoring runs, but he would tell me, ‘papa, don’t worry, runs will come’. That’s Uday for you. I am not saying because he is my son but at 19, he can remain uncluttered,” Sanjeev, beaming with joy after his son led India to their fifth consecutive U-19 World Cup final, told PTI.
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For the uninitiated, Uday plays national level cricket from Punjab but he hails from Shri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan. “During matches, he travels from Shri Ganganagar to Bathinda which is a two-hour train journey. He is doing second year BCom from Bathinda University. It was a friend of my mine, who suggested that Uday be shifted to Fazilka in Punjab for cricket,” the father informed.
Fazilka is also Shubman Gill’s village. With one hundred and three fifties in six World Cup games so far, Punjab batter Uday is currently the highest run-getter in this edition, and his batting style resembles the 1980s and 90s’ top-order accumulators.
So how does it feel when he sees himself as father of an India team captain? “I don’t have words to express that feeling. It is special. I had seen his leadership skills since he was young. When I would take him to the academy and teach him a drill, he would take a lead and teach other trainees. He has always been a responsible boy.”
What will be his advice to his son before the final? “Nothing bas cup lekey aa jaayein [Just bring home the cup].”
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