Life is both great and cruel sometimes. Great because you are one among the very few Indians who made the cut to one of the IPL teams. Great because you get to share the dressing room with some of the biggest stars in the game. It is also cruel because you couldn’t go beyond but who is complaining?
This is the life of Tajinder Singh who warmed the bench for the whole 2018 season and is currently warming the bench. You don’t even see him bringing the drinks to the players but again, who is complaining?
Tajinder began his cricket when he was very young when his sister gifted him a bat. As every single story goes by, he also played street cricket and being a part of the joint-family tradition, the game was always there.
Tajinder’s uncle played for Railways in Ranji Trophy. He used to accompany his uncle when he was young. A few years later, realizing his interest in cricket, his uncle made him train professionally in Dholpur academy. For years, he trained continuously but couldn’t get into any of the junior tournament. He had 264 runs and picked up 11 wickets for Dholpur in under-16 district competition, still failed to get into the state team. He didn’t give up, worked hard and did well in the under-19 district competition as well but again, he failed to make the cut. The constant rejection did hurt him, especially, his family who wanted him to leave the game and go for some job, blame their financial situation.
Tajinder’s family ran truck and transport business for years but when he turned 18, the family faced a huge loss in the business and they needed money to pay off the debts. He had no other way but to quit professional cricket-where he didn’t taste any success at that time.
Tajinder’s sisters made sure that he didn’t give up his aim, and he requested his father to give him two more years to make a mark. His sisters immediately took teaching jobs and went on to take tuitions and helped Tajinder out. He also played and won multiple local bet matches and cash tournaments at that time.
He was in his early 20s and had no idea how to make head turns until Rajasthan Cricket League(RCL) arrived. It was 2016. He knew he needed something big and went berserk.
He was batting at nine from seven for Udaipur Mewar Royals. Pankaj Singh ran in to bowl his 3rd over; the 18th of the match. He gave 11 runs from his two overs which included seven dots. He didn’t know what was waiting for him.
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Ball 1- A good length delivery towards middle and leg. Tajinder Singh goes backwards and smashes it over the mid-wicket. SIX.
Ball 2- A fullish delivery, almost a yorker. He sees the ball, skids back as it pitches and smashes it right back over the head of Pankaj Singh. SIX.
Ball 3- Pankaj Singh comes around the wicket after some minor fielding changes and drops short. Tajinder stands as if he was waiting for a short ball and pulls it but finds the fielder. TWO.
Ball 4- Pankaj Singh pushes all the fielders in the front to the end of boundary line but brings the fine leg in. Tajinder sees it and moves as Pankaj runs in. Pankaj follows him but still, Tajinder manages to complete the scoop shot. FOUR.
Ball 5- Pankaj drops yet another short ball but this time well outside off. Tajinder reaches it, plays a tennis forehand. SIX.
Ball 6- This time, Pankaj nails the bouncer but unfortunately, Tajinder swings so hard that the ball catches the top edge and goes over the keeper’s head.
Pankaj Singh comes back to bowl the 20th over and Tajinder gets the strike back with four balls remaining.
Ball 7- A normal good length delivery from Pankaj but the pace variation made Tajinder mis-hit and he found the long-on fielder but to his luck, the fielder misjudges the ball and drops the catch, the ball goes for six. That was his 50 and he took just 18 deliveries.
No, he doesn’t stop there.
Ball 8- Pankaj tries to go outside off but Tajinder manages to reach it, smashes it over long-off for a six.
Ball 9- Pankaj bowls a good length delivery but a slower one. Tajinder picks it up, smashes it over long-on. SIX.
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He ended up scoring 69 from 21 deliveries, added 52 from just 10 deliveries off Pankaj Singh. The video travelled miles and was on social media, trending. What followed was selection to Rajasthan’s limited-over tournaments and then the IPL. For Rajasthan, he ended up scoring 198 runs from 9 innings at a strike-rate over 170. He also had 8 wickets at an economy rate just under 6.5 in 2017-2018 season of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He played alongside the Chahar brothers and Ravi Bishnoi.
Mumbai Indians found him, took him under their wing in 2018. Unfortunately, he had to warm the bench for the whole season. For him, though, that was an unforgettable experience because… Sachin Tendulkar.
Growing up, he idolized the man and even used to make people call him Sachin while playing the game. He wanted to play for the franchise because of the love for the man. It was a dream come true for him. To make his stay even more special, Sachin came to him, spoke with him for minutes after he scored 58 from 21 deliveries in the practice match. He was literally shivering when Sachin approached him. A big fanboy moment for him. After being released by the team last year, he continued to perform well for Rajasthan and appeared in the auction once again. This time, Kings Xi Punjab bought him.
In his career, he has 17 wickets from 20 T20 innings at 6.52 and also has scored 346 runs at 144.16.
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This pandemic has been cruel for everyone. For the guest workers, it was too much. A lot of people walked back home without food because there was no proper transport.
It was one fine day, Tajinder saw the news about the migrant workers and their struggle. That almost killed him. He wanted to do something.
Since he stays near the highways, he was able to see their struggles as well. Tajinder called his friends, and they came together to help out people.
He requested people to donate footwear, gathered vegetables, bread and wheat. He distributed them equally to his locality and requested them to make something for the migrant workers. They managed to help 1400 people in a day. Apart from the meal, they also provided milk and sherbet for the people. This went on for days and Tajinder, along with his friends, would have supported more than 10000 people.
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When the IPL was announced, he was so desperate that he extended his practice timing and was working hard before coming to the UAE. He also did well during the practice, but unfortunately, the team is yet to find a position for him.
