It was an ordinary day’s training, nothing special. But then, in the blink of an eye, something changed.
The Delhi Capitals practice at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was underway – batters coming and going, coaches calling out directions, the occasional ping of ball on bat reverberating through the floodlights. Sahil Parikh, a 18-year-old, relatively new to this stage, was relaxed for those few balls. Short stance, eyes alight. And so far so good, until it wasn’t.
One ball, a bit short, lurched off the ice. It was there, too late, really. It popped up and hit him just above the face, in spite of the helmet and guard. The noise – metallic, abnormal – rang out. For a moment everything stopped. Then the net behind him rustled as he backed away, his hand shot up defensively, his posture defensive.
Those around him stopped what they were doing. Some of them had started running before someone said, “Hey!” The staff followed, their blood pressure rising. Standing where it all took place you could feel the unease – he wasn’t down, but he wasn’t good. The kind of silence you know isn’t a simple visit.
The medicos were efficient, almost robotic. They checked him out, talked quietly but decisively. A hand was raised from the stands and, minutes later, the session was over. Bats were left alone, bowlers watched on. Even the crowd’s noise seemed to die down for some time.
There were quick arrangements for Sahil Parikh to be taken away for more medical attention. It wasn’t a mad dash, not a stretcher, but it was serious. A young player, in the early part of his career, being escorted away by a team of medics – this is never a welcome sight for any team. Some players took a bit longer to leave the nets, looking towards the tunnel – waiting for that signal, which is yet to arrive.
Yet, it’s cricket. Not just the days when the sun sets, the lights come on and spectators cheer, but these in-between times. Net sessions are contained, certainly. Particularly for the batters who take quicks on their bowlers on fast, bouncy pitches, where a misread, a bad bounce can turn the tide.
For Delhi Capitals, the timing is another issue. This is a busy season, match schedules tight, little time to recover. Everyone is vital, especially the young ones trying to emerge and provide good depth. Sahil Parikh’s injury – the seriousness is not clear – disrupts his momentum and potentially the team’s as well.
