‘David Warner said ‘big man, I’m sorry’ & hugged me’: Net bowler Jaykishan Plaha

David Warner is in prime form in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019, the Aussie opener has already scored two half-centuries and two centuries. He has marked a grand return to international cricket after serving a year-long ban for his involvement in the ball tampering scandal which happened in South Africa in March 2018.

Recently, however, he made headlines for hitting a net bowler on his head before the clash against India. The bowler was identified as an English club cricketer of Indian origin named Jaykishan Plaha, who had to be stretchered off the ground after he was diagnosed with a serious concussion. The 23-year-old spent four nights in a London hospital and was invited by Warner again to visit the Oval.

“Warner screamed ‘Oh Lord, No!’, when I was hit, says Plaha

The fast bowling all-rounder has been a net bowler for the Indian team as well and recalled his experience on getting hit in the head by Warner. “Warner screamed ‘Oh Lord, No!’. That was all I could hear from the other end, before falling on the pitch. It was an outside off delivery and Warner played that short in an arc and it came at me at good speed. Before I could duck, the ball hit me so hard,” Plaha was quoted as saying by Times of India.

“Warner, Langer, Maxwell, Smith, most of them came to see me in the hospital. This was probably due to the incident that happened a few years ago. Warner said ‘big man…I am sorry’ and he hugged me,” Plaha said, referring to Australian cricketer Phil Hughes, who passed away after being hit on the back of his neck in 2014 during a match.

Plaha was called back to Oval by the Australian team and was presented with a jersey that was autographed by the whole team. “Warner called my name and presented me the Australian jersey. It has the signature of every cricketer in the Australian squad. I was so happy. He (Warner) also gifted a few World Cup tickets to my family,” Plaha further added.

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The youngster added that the Australian batsmen were encouraging him positively when he was bowling to them and helped him a lot. Plaha revealed that his batting idol is MS Dhoni and models his bowling on South Africa legend Dale Steyn.