Even as the national selectors sat down to select the squad for the first two Tests against Australia, one man went about patiently observing and correcting the basics of youngsters at the Bharat Nagar Cricket Academy. Sanjay Bharadwaj may not be a name familiar to the cricket-obsessed nation, but for two members of the squad that was finally announced on Wednesday, the man is responsible for their journey to the national ranks.

Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir and leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who were named in the 14-member squad, both learned their trade under Bharadwaj in the city. With this, Bharadwaj has joined an elite group of coaches — alongside the likes of Tarak Sinha and Ramakant Achrekar — who have had atleast two of their wards in the national squad at the same time.

“I had achieved this distinction before as well, way back in 2003, when they were both given their first breaks on the Bangladesh tour. It has taken another five years for them to regroup, both of them had to go through different struggles all these years but I am happy they have come through,” Bharadwaj said.

While Gambhir has made the opener’s slot his own in all forms of the game — ODIs, Tests and even Twenty20 — Mishra has got his break now, and there is talk that he is being looked upon, again, as a possible replacement for Anil Kumble.

“Gambhir has established himself in the last one year, and I kept telling Mishra that his time too will come very soon. I told him that he will play for India again, and we had a friendly bet that he will play for India by October. By sheer coincidence, he’s made it on the first day itself. He owes me a treat for this,” he said.

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