During the ongoing Test match, the second and final game of the tour to Sri Lanka, an interesting experience transpired during the Extra Innings talk show broadcasted on Sony Liv.
In the show greats like Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohd Kaif were recounting an interesting episode pertaining to Indian cricket. And what one saw yesterday was something rather telling and heartening about one important pillar of the Indian men’s national cricket team that perhaps deserves greater attention than given. And it was indeed wonderful that Pujara got this to everyone’s attention by sharing an interesting insight on Raghu.
He shared yesterday that, ‘Raghu bhai, the throwdown specialist of our Indian side has been with the team since the last 15-16 years. He was there even when I made my debut and he’s been there even before Gauti bhai (head coach, Gautam Gambhir) was with the side!’
And that’s not all; Pujara would continue further and added the following:
‘While in the current side Ravindra Jadeja with 90 Test matches in the senior-most, similarly, the amount of years Raghu bhai has spent with the team is something no one can match and he’s the senior most! I don’t really think if there’s anyone else in the capacity of the support staff who’s spent so much time with the Indian cricket team quite like that of Raghu.’
Gladly, to this the great Kaif would further add, ‘credit to Sachin Paaji (Tendulkar) for getting his name (Raghu’s) in the mainstream. He kept pushing for Raghu and wanted him to be associated with the Indian team.’
And the former Indian cricketer also added an interesting anecdote about Raghu sharing that, ‘he has even bowled to me and can deliver any kind of spin, whether it’s left arm orthodox or off spin!’
Moments like these as the conversation regarding Raghu by Pujara and Kaif remind us of the underrated forces that rally behind our team. These are special talents that are just as important as the our mainstream cricketers or talents as this support staff with its unique talent does eventually play a huge part in the games’ preparation for our cricketers.