Navjot Singh Sidhu: Prolific batsman, insurgent, quitter, and a few U-turns

Cricket to commentary, actuality TV reveals to politics, Navjot Singh Sidhu has had the knack to shock, to maintain everybody on their toes about his subsequent transfer.
With this background, the present upheaval in Punjab Congress shouldn’t puzzle those that have adopted Sidhu’s cricketing profession by his numerous avatars. Not many make the swap from the BJP to Congress, tackle the chief minister – from his personal celebration – power a change on the helm earlier than stepping down from their very own publish a few days later.
An outdated teammate from his taking part in days places it aptly: “With Sidhu, you never know…”
During his days as an lively cricketer, Sidhu may by no means be written off or slotted. He was additionally well-known for his flip-flops.
From being dubbed a ‘strokeless wonder’ for his dour batting to being anointed ‘Sixer Sidhu’, and from being seen as tongue-tied to turning into a glib talker, the person from Patiala has been no stranger to transformation. It makes the latest political about-turns of the son of a former Congress politician rather less obscure.
Navjot Singh Sidhu popping out of Indira Gandhi worldwide airport after he took retirement from cricket whereas on England tour. (Express archive photograph Sanjay Okay Sharma on 30.05.1996)
Here’s a person who returned halfway from a tour of England alleging that the then India captain Mohammad Azharuddin was consistently abusing him, introduced his worldwide retirement, however days later advised the cricket board’s inquiry committee that it was all his personal fault and he was ready to bear the implications of his actions. He continued to dilly-dally about his plans however got here again to the fold earlier than lengthy and ended up taking part in beneath Azhar, who he had blamed for his walkout.
Sidhu is rightly feted for his Test hundred at Kingston, Jamaica, in 1989 in opposition to the tempo battery comprising Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop – thought-about one of many bravest innings by an Indian. But on the identical time, many who’ve performed alongside him recall Sidhu struggling mysterious accidents after seeing the slightest tinge of inexperienced on a pitch. And as a rule, he wouldn’t come out to area after an extended innings, some of the well-known situations being the 1996 World Cup quarter-final in opposition to Pakistan in Bangalore.

Twists and turns
Sidhu will perpetually be linked with the occasions on the 1996 England tour. To perceive the current Sidhu-triggered political turmoil in Punjab, revisiting that eventful sequence that dropped at fore Indian cricket’s dressing-room intrigue would assist.
Even tangentially, Sidhu’s walkout gave a chance to Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly to cement their spots within the group. So, regardless that the choice could have been prompted by private pique, it did some good for Indian cricket in the long term.
But what occurred then has unusual parallels to the goings-on in Punjab politics now.
Mohd Azharuddin and Navjot Singh Sidhu throughout their assembly on the Parliament in New Delhi. (Express photograph by Praveen Jain)
Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar, who had retired from worldwide cricket just a few months earlier than occasions in England got here to a head, had squarely blamed then skipper Mohammad Azharuddin for Sidhu’s choice.
In an interview with The Indian Express, given throughout that 1996 England tour, he had accused Azhar of attempting to “eliminate” all those that may threaten his place. “Why should they, otherwise, pick on Kapil (Dev) paaji, Sidhu and myself? My suspicion is that his (Azhar’s) next target may be Sanjay Manjrekar.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu in motion throughout his cricket taking part in days. (Express archive photograph)
It could also be recalled that Prabhakar didn’t play for India once more after being taken to the cleaners in a World Cup recreation in opposition to Sri Lanka in Delhi a few months earlier. Azhar was the captain then too.
In Punjab too, with the latest exit of chief minister Amarinder Singh, one can witness the identical energy battle. Like was the case within the Indian Team throughout the mid-90s, the political environment in Punjab isn’t any totally different. Sidhu won’t be a veteran politician however he isn’t new to politics.
Going again to 1996, Sandeep Patil, who had not too long ago taken over as head coach of the Indian group, had expressed his ignorance about Sidhu’s motives and causes for the walkout. Twenty-five years later, the Congress excessive command too is seemingly none the wiser about why Sidhu stepped down as Punjab Congress president after seeing his bete noire in state politics resign as chief minister.
Congress chief Navjot Sidhu joins protest at Jantar Mantar in opposition to Agriculture Bill on. (Express photograph by Rajendra Yadav)
It could also be solely sooner or later that the general public could get to know concerning the methods wherein Sidhu’s thoughts works. He was amongst those that refused to disclose any secrets and techniques he knew about cricket match-fixing in his time with the Indian group as he didn’t need to disturb his tranquil post-retirement life in Patiala. Prabhakar had tried to coax his former teammate to say what he knew about Kapil’s alleged match-fixing hyperlinks to a hidden digital camera for a Tehelka expose, however Sidhu refused to say something in opposition to the legendary all-rounder.
“I am very clear on this. I am sitting peacefully in Patiala. I am miles away from these things. Main iske neede-teede bhi phatakna nahi chahta (I don’t want to come anywhere close to all this),” he had stated.
The man who needed to remain away from controversy and highlight now sees them chase him around the clock, or is it the opposite approach spherical?