Injured batsman heroics aid Railways

Chennai: Railways batsman Rohan Bhosale, who was under observation at a hospital on Tuesday night after suffering a blow on his neck from a fierce sweep by Tamil Nadu batsman R. Sathish, came storming into the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday morning to help his side grab the decisive first innings lead. As the ninth Railways wicket fell with the visitors one run behind Tamil Nadu’s first innings total of 213, the TN players started to celebrate assuming that they had the lead and three points. However, a roar from the Railways dug-out signalled the entry of a gutsy Bhosale onto the field in the nick of time.

People at the entrance of the stadium say that they saw the 30-year-old Bhosale jumping out of an auto-rickshaw with a bandage around his wrist. The team management had earlier said Bhosale was asked to be under observation for a day and his further participation in the match was uncertain.

The heroic Bhosale, who later revealed that he didn’t even wear an abdomen guard as he hurried into the pitch, said: “As I was entering the stadium, the ninth wicket fell. I ran to the middle without wearing socks, an abdomen guard and thigh pads. Even the pads I wore were strapped wrongly. Once I made sure I wasn’t going to be given timed out, I got all the protective gear on after settling in the middle,” he said.

“Last night I had a feeling that my services might be required in the morning. I called the team manager from the hospital because I was having an eye on the score constantly. As the match went down to the wire I decided to leave the hospital,” said the Mumbai-born cricketer. People at the entrance of the stadium say that they saw the 30-year-old Bhosale jumping out of an auto-rickshaw with a bandage around his wrist.  At the close of play on day three the team management said that left-handed batsman was asked to be under observation for a day and his further participation in the match was uncertain.

“The doctors didn’t allow me to leave the hospital as I was advised rest for two to three weeks. But I desperately wanted to come and bat as I felt our team might fall short by a very close margin. I somehow managed to convince the doctors and fortunately I was on time,” said Bhosale, who lauded overnight batsmen Arnab Nandi and Ashish yadav for their gritty show with the bat.

TN skipper R. Prasanna admitted he was surprised when Bhosale walked into bat. “We thought he wouldn’t be coming out to bat. But you have to give it to him for his gutsy effort,” he said.