NEW DELHI: Three years ago, around this time in January, India did the unthinkable — they stormed the “fortress”, popularly known as “The Gabba”, a bastion that had stood unyielding for over three decades. The Australians, guardians of this impregnable citadel, could never have fathomed in their wildest dreams that they would be handed a humiliation so brutal, it birthed the iconic headline, “Toota Gabba ka ghamand” (‘The pride of Gabba is broken’).
As Rishabh Pant dispatched the winning runs off Josh Hazlewood, there was another warrior at the other end — Navdeep Saini. From what could only be described as the best seat in the house, he saw history being made and “ghamand” broken.
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But this victory didn’t come without its price. Saini, already battling a groin injury, had been running on sheer willpower. While his sprint was rendered unnecessary as Pant’s shot kissed the boundary ropes, with players running in from the dugout to embrace in ecstasy, Saini, in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, revealed that the Gabba win was like a magical cure after all, healing all his suffering from groin pain, tapes and painkillers.
Team India ahead of the Gabba Test
With their backs to the wall and an injury-ridden squad, Team India entered the Gabba Test with a steely resolve.
“The mood in the team was fantastic. Everyone’s mindset remained really positive, especially before the Gabba Test match, because of how we lost the first match (in Adelaide). After that, no one talked about it. Then we won the Melbourne Test comprehensively. The Sydney Test match was a draw, and that was the best thing for us because everyone performed brilliantly. At one point, it felt like we might lose. So managing to draw that match was a huge achievement,” Saini, currently in Brisbane with Team India as a reserve player, told TimesofIndia.com.
The momentum from Melbourne’s win and Sydney’s gritty draw had instilled a quiet confidence in the team, turning the dressing room into a cauldron of positivity and belief. The mission was clear — win, no matter the odds.
“After the Sydney Test, there was a sense of confidence in the team. First, we had won the Melbourne match, and then we drew the Sydney Test. The thought in everyone’s mind was that there was just one match left, and we had to give it everything we had. The atmosphere in the dressing room was extremely positive about that final match,” he added.
The Gabba — Team Australia’s so-called ‘fortress’
Before India’s historic visit to The Gabba, hopes were dim as the last team to breach what they called the “fortress” had been the West Indies, way back in 1988.
“As soon as we arrived at The Gabba, we noticed that the weather was extremely hot. In those conditions, we had to adjust our strategy on how to bowl long spells or opt for shorter ones. All those adjustments had to be made during the match. So, the weather played a crucial role. As for the pitch, we knew it would get better for batting day-by-day and would also offer a bit more pace. And that’s exactly what happened,” recalled the 32-year-old Saini.
India’s historic day at The Gabba (Navdeep Saini Instagram Photo)
“The most important thing about Gabba, or other pitches in Australia, is how consistently you can bowl around the 6-meter mark. That length is crucial because you get excellent bounce.”
The Gabba’s blistering heat and lively pitch demanded quick adaptation from Team India. With its legendary bounce and pace, mastering the 6-meter length was the key to making inroads on a surface that only got faster as the days progressed.
The Ajankya Rahane mishap and injury foe
On Day 1 of the Gabba Test, during the 36th over, Navdeep Saini delivered a back-of-a-length ball to Marnus Labuschagne that climbed sharply off the pitch.
Labuschagne, attempting to defend, edged it high on the bat, sending the ball flying towards gully. To everyone’s surprise, Ajinkya Rahane, known for his safe hands, spilled the straightforward catch at waist height, letting a golden opportunity slip away.
To compound matters further, Saini appeared to have injured himself.
“That moment was very crucial for me because I had already bowled a 6-7 over spell, and it was the penultimate ball of both my over and my spell. That’s when I got injured. Plus, Rahane dropped a catch off that ball. At that time, I felt like, ‘Well, I’m injured now, but getting that wicket would’ve been a big help.’ Injuries are something no one can control, especially for a fast bowler, but if we had taken that wicket at that moment, it would have been even better,” the pacer shared.
“A catch can be dropped by anyone, but at that time, it was an important match and my debut series. So, I was more upset about getting injured because it was my debut series, and such a crucial match, and then suddenly this injury happened. After that, I decided to do whatever I could. With taping, painkillers, and whatever support was possible, I wanted to bowl as much as I could to help the team because I knew this moment wasn’t going to come again.”
It was a double blow for Team India: the dropped catch could have put Australia four down before the 100-run mark, but Saini’s resolve to contribute, despite the setback, remained unwavering.
“All of us had only one thing in mind — we had to win this match. Everyone’s mindset was aligned with that because the series was tied, and we knew there was nothing to gain from just drawing the match. The collective mindset was clear: we had to win. At no point during the match did it feel like we were uncertain about our chances. Right from the start, everyone was positive and fully focused on victory,” he continued.
“As soon as the injury happened, the pain started immediately. After discussing it with the physio, Nitin sir (Nitin Patel), we decided to apply tighter tape and take painkillers. I had already told them that I wouldn’t be able to run at full speed. Painkillers don’t completely take the pain away, but I managed the pain as much as I could because I knew this moment would stay with me for a lifetime.”
The fun in agony — history in the making
Despite battling through injury, Navdeep Saini defied expectations, taking painkillers and wrapping his injured groin in heavy tape to return for a crucial five-over spell in the second innings. Though he didn’t claim any wickets, his sheer resilience and commitment to the team’s cause spoke volumes, sending a strong message to the Australians.
Chasing a target of 328, India were seven down with three runs needed to win. To everyone’s surprise, once again, Team India sent the injured Saini to join Rishabh Pant at the crease for the final push. While many hailed it as a tactical move from the management, Saini later revealed the unexpected truth behind his surprising arrival at the centre.
“That was such a funny moment. The atmosphere was incredibly intense and serious. Everyone knew I couldn’t run because of the pain, and the match situation was so critical. It was the final stages of the game, and we had a couple of bowlers left to bat after me. In all that seriousness, everyone forgot that I was injured. All they saw was that the tailenders had to go in and contribute some runs. Ravi Shastri sir said, ‘Saini, put on your pads.’ The tension was so high that I just went along with it. I thought, ‘This is my chance; I’ll contribute somehow — it’ll be fun’. Nobody remembered I was injured or that I couldn’t run. And I didn’t remind anyone either because I felt it was my time to step up. I quickly put on the pads and went out to the field,” revealed Saini.
“As soon as I got out there, Rishabh told me, ‘Don’t worry, just run when I call for it.’ I didn’t tell him I was in pain or couldn’t run properly. I just said, ‘Okay, I’ll run when you call.’ Then, when Rishabh hit a shot and called for a run, I felt no pain at all in that moment. The adrenaline was so high that I just ran as if nothing was wrong. That moment was so special; I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort — it was as if everything else faded away.”
The celebration
The moment after the win was unlike anything he had felt before, said Saini. The pride, the goosebumps from the crowd’s roar — it all sank in as the nation celebrated a historic milestone together.
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“One thing is for sure — the feeling before we won the match and after we won was completely different. I can’t describe in words what that feeling truly was. I felt incredibly proud, and that’s when it hit me what we had actually achieved. The sound of the crowd after we won gave me goosebumps. At that moment, we were all cheering for each other,” the bowler concluded.
“Later, the team sat down together for dinner, and it was such a special moment. We talked about everything that happened in the match. It was so satisfying to realise that what we had discussed before the series started, the goals we had set — we had finally achieved them.”