20 July,2009 09:18 AM IST | | Sudheendra Tripathi
The former India batsman Yajurvindra Singh, who was once hit smack on the eye during a Ranji Trophy game, advice Baljit, the injured India hockey goalkeeper
From the impact of injury to the anxiety of watching worried teammates while being stretchered out of a playing field, former Test cricketer Yajurvindra Singh knows what India hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh is facing right now, two days after a golf ball hit him in the eye.
For, as Maharashtra's Ranji Trophy captain, Yajurvindra had suffered a similar injury way back in 1977 during a Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat in Solapur.
Thirty two years on and memory of the pain has not diminished. He hoped Baljit's injury is not career-threatening, but advised determination and a positive attitude to get back on his playing feet.u00a0 "I know what he (Baljit) is going through right now. I sincerely hope he doesn't lose his sight and is back on the field soon," he said.u00a0
The former India middle-order batsman spoke to MiD DAY yesterday evening and recalled the painful blow, which he thought would partially blind him for life.
Read on: I was leading Maharashtra in a Ranji Trophy game against Gujarat at Solapur in 1977. Maharashtra had been reduced to 17 for four. I got runs (150) and a few partnerships were forged. We were able to steady the ship. The incident happened during the last wicket partnership which reaped 50 plus runs till I got hit and had to retire hurt.u00a0
It was the last ball of the over and in order to retain strike, I had to take a single. So, in an attempt to put the ball away for a single, I completely missed the bouncer from Gujarat seamer Pankaj Jhaveri. The ball hit me smack on the eye. I had to be taken off the field and was transported to a civil hospital to be operated upon. My eyelid took a fair amount of beating and my eyeball was partially popping out. I was certain that I would never regain sight.
Interestingly, Dr Hoshing, who performed the operation was using dissolvable stitches for the first time. So he called all the junior doctors to observe while I was being operated upon!
He did a fantastic job. I wanted a second opinion while I was in England and the specialist who I went to said that the surgery couldn't have been better.
Dr Hoshing saved my eye and thanks to him I could continue to play cricket before my career ended. But having experienced such an ordeal, my respect for Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi grew manifold. He played his cricket with only one eye and that is why he is the best Indian cricketer ever according to me. After being through surgery, I couldn't see the soap in the bathroom properly the next morning. I missed it. But Pataudi faced the best of fast bowlers with only one eye! It is simply remarkable.
Meanwhile, here's wishing Baljit a speedy recovery.
