Representing Railways this season, former Delhi off-spinner takes three wickets to restrict the hosts to 204 in the under-22 game

Playing in the CK Nayudu tournament and that too for a team like Railways after breaking into a high-profile Ranji team like Delhi may be construed as a step down for many. But if you are Narender Singh, the discarded off-spinner, who was only needed during drinks break to hydrate Delhi ‘s superstars for the whole of last season, it’s starting afresh.

The former Delhi off-spinner turned the tables on his detractors as he finished with figures of 7-2-17-3 and along with seamer Abhishek Pandey, who picked up four himself — polished off Delhi U-22 team for only 204, at St. Stephen’s ground on Wednesday.

After serving up a reminder of his usefulness to his former selectors - Chetan Chauhan and Rajkumar Sharma (now an U-22 coach) — who were at the game, Singh said he was looking forward to greater success with his employers.

“I am happy with my haul today. After a bad match against Tamil Nadu we have started well here. Though I didn’t get to bowl too many overs, I am satisfied with whatever I got,” he told Sportline.

But even Railways made him wait for over six months before confirming his Grade III job. That wait ensured that he missed the cut to attend the trials and a ticket to the elite of domestic cricket.

“My confirmation came late and so I missed the chance to attend the trials. It’s a new start and I am only getting to know my teammates. I will need time to know my role in the team, till that time I happy with what I get,” he said of his new beginning with the Railways U-22 team. His skipper Karn Sharma kept him waiting till 51 overs to unleash him on his former teammates, including Gaurav Chabbra and Yogesh Nagar. Sharma had by then dismissed Chabbra and Nagar was run out after a horrible mix-up with Chabbra before lunch.

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