Cricket / Sreesanth plays a professional match after 2,804 days, thanks the pitch after spell

Fast bowler Sreesanth on Monday played his first professional match after 2,804 days, representing Kerala against Puducherry in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match. The 37-year-old registered bowling figures of 4-0-29-1 and was seen thanking the pitch after his spell. Sreesanth was banned over the IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal and his seven-year ban ended in September last year.

Vikrant Shekhawat : Jan 12, 2021, 08:09 AM
Cricket Desk: In the year 2013, S. Sreesanth, a two-time World Cup winner, was accused of spot-fixing during an IPL game. It was big news at the time and had shocked the entire nation. The Kerala speedster was one of the best swing bowlers in the country and the allegations were gonna jeopardize his career. A long ban by the Board of Control for Cricket in India meant that the bowler might never come back to cricket again. 

But, the fast-bowler never gave up hopes for making a comeback to cricket. During the lockdown, he was in the news a lot for his comments on his comeback and the day finally arrived. With Kerala playing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament game on Monday, the 37-year-old made a comeback to competitive cricket.

Sreesanth swings it, knocks the off-stump in the comeback match

Before his comeback, Sreesanth had made some bold comments on how he can still make a cut in the Indian team. He had said that he was getting ready and he didn’t lose the swing. And, when the time comes, he will show it that he has still got it in him. Judging what we just saw during Kerala’s match against Puducherry, we can say maybe he was right. 

The pacer took only seven balls before he was back at what we remember the best, knocking the stumps over with brilliant swing bowling. The fast-bowler, who seems stronger than ever, got one to leave the Puducherry batsman Fabid Ahmed awestruck. The ball went and hit the off stump. It was a beautiful piece of bowling and the pacer celebrated it. It was obvious that the wicket made him a little bit emotional. The passion for playing the sport and doing well was all over his face. Sreesanth finished with the spell of 4-0-29-1. He thanked the pitch after finishing his spell.

Sreesanth has featured in 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is so far. It seems quite uncertain whether he would ever make a comeback for India. At 37, he isn’t getting any younger and the crop of fast-bowlers which the Indian team has currently, makes it all the more difficult for the speedster to come back.

But for now, the pace is up, the swing is back and so is the dislodging of bails. Basically, S Sreesanth is back at 37 and still has cricket left in him.