Madan recalls how he had mastered the art. “I used to come to practice at the Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad where Sarkar Talwar Sir used to coach. I used to bowl for four hours daily at the nets. I used to bowl leg-breaks to the right-handers, then tried off-breaks to the left-handers and slowly, I started trying out different things. Because I used to bowl for such long hours, I could try everything possible, and I mastered every delivery I tried,” he says.

Working as an assistant officer in a liquor company, Madan now runs his own academy back in Palwal. He still plays active cricket, and only Monday night he walked up to receive a trophy at the DDCA annual sports function after helping his club to a title this season. “I know age is not with me, but I’m still training hard.” Ironically, this Mendis-hype has given him a sense of optimism.

“Maybe I still have a chance of making the ICL or IPL. Maybe my middle-class life can change — maybe cricketers with special skills will be recognised in the future,” he says, packing his kitbag after practice. It’s time to walk on the well-trodden path, back home.