Rajagopal Sathish postponed his surgery to win TNPL for Chepauk

Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2017 came to its conclusion last week and Chepauk Super Gillies were crowned the champions this time beating the defending champions Tuti Patriots. Chepauk skipper Rajagopal Sathish postponed a knee surgery to be able to play the final and it aggravated further ten days ago. His decision has to be hailed since he was there in the middle until the end in a nail-biting encounter that the final was.

R Sathish was battling on one leg having suffered a knee ligament tear on his left leg in the concluding stages of TNPL. The gutsy veteran who has undergone four surgeries on the same left knee in the past decade, soldiered on bowling with the new ball and manning the straight boundaries with great guts.

Sathish explained their path to the glory and how he played with an injury and the role of their coach Hemang Badani in an interview. “The knee injury happened while I was fielding against Tuti in a league match. I was almost ruled out of the tournament after the third match. Last year we faltered in the final. This year I wanted to do something special for the side. I decided to play with pain killers and postponed my treatment. Hemang (coach) didn’t stop me,” the 36-year-old told TOI.

Cricket is my passion 

Sathish, who has played for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, also said that cricket is his passion and it looks like he forgot the pain once he started to play. “It hampered my movement. I couldn’t play the slog, get down on the knee or charge. My knee was strapped heavily. I had to bowl as well but I knew I could push. I decided to come down to No 7 and let the youngsters take charge. I knew if I stayed there, I could guide them. Cricket is my passion and the victory was sweet,” Sathish who is set to undergo a series of tests before taking a call on the surgery said.

The coach of Chepauk Super Gillies, Hemang Badani, lavished praises on the skipper and hailed him for his commitment towards the game. “The doctors have advised him not to play but he stepped it up saying no matter what, even he is hobbling on the field or is on one leg, he is going to play the tournament. That is the commitment and that is the man for you right now. He won’t speak about it, but I know what is happening. Come the right time, experience counts and that is why people like him matter,” said the former Indian cricketer.