Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aaqib Nabi never gave up his hope of playing Test cricket for India. Even though he had to wait a while for his first call, he continued to play well. He was confident that if he kept playing well, he would definitely get a chance.
This opportunity came when Aaqib was selected in the Indian team for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka starting from Saturday. He has been included in the team in place of injured fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Last season, Aaqib had helped his team Jammu and Kashmir win the Ranji Trophy for the first time.
Also read: 'There is a difference between IPL and international cricket', Ajinkya Rahane said on Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Aaqib Nabi's statement
Speaking to another uncapped player Saransh Jain in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Aaqib opened up about his thinking. Aaqib said, 'Yes, I had expectations but the mindset of a cricket player should be that he does his work and others are watching.'
He further said, 'I knew that sooner or later I would get the call because when you play well for so many years, you definitely get the fruits of your hard work.' Aaqib also said, 'So I used to bowl with the thought that my job is to take wickets and show my game and the rest is up to God. I felt very good when my name came. My family is very happy and I don't think anything could be better than this.
Saransh Jain's long journey
Saransh was part of the Madhya Pradesh team that won the Ranji Trophy in the year 2021-22 and defeated Mumbai in the final. 33 year old Saransh said that one has to have a lot of patience to reach Test cricket. Saransh said, 'You have to be patient in Test cricket and if you want to play Test cricket for India, then you have to be patient in that too.'
He further said, 'I played my first match in Ranji Trophy in 2014-15. It was a very long journey. It took a lot of hard work and sacrifice but I had full faith that one day I would definitely play for India and my family had a big role in this. He also said, 'My father, who is a Ranji player himself, told me the same thing. You just have to be patient, things will come to you automatically.
Got a surprising call at the airport
Both the players also told how they got the news of being selected in their team. Aaqib told, 'I was at the airport. We had to go to a camp in COE and I was about to board a flight to Bengaluru. Aaqib further said, 'I got a call asking where I was. I told them that I was going to Bangalore and was at the airport. He told me that I do not have to go there, I have to come to Sri Lanka and I have been selected. Aaqib also said, 'At first I could not believe it. This happened very suddenly because the team had already arrived.
Also read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi created history in Zimbabwe, whose record did he break?
I was ready to work hard. I was going to the camp. Saransh told about himself, 'When I got the call, I was driving to the temple. I checked calls and messages on my phone on the way. Then I came to know that I have been selected. This two-Test series against Sri Lanka is starting from Saturday in Sri Lanka itself.