Delhi left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan is ready to return to the game following an 18-month doping ban which ended earlier this week.
The 24-year-old, who was part of India's World Cup-winning Under-19 team in 2008, was banned for use of a prohibited substance during the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League in 2013.
An e-mail from the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirming that his 18-month long doping ban has been lifted and he can resume training with his state team was the best birthday gift he must have received.
"Yesterday (Wednesday) was my 24th birthday and a day before that I got an e-mail from BCCI. They have confirmed that my ban has been lifted. BCCI has confirmed that all my latest urine sample reports have come negative. During the ban, I was not permitted to train or use any state association facilities. Now that the ban is over, I can at least train with the Ranji Trophy team," a relieved Sangwan was quoted as saying by PTI on Thursday.
Sangwan, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League in 2013, was the first Indian professional cricketer to be banned after he had tested positive for stanozolol -- a prohibited steroid -- which was found in his urine sample.
One of the heroes of India Under-19 team's 2008 World Cup triumph, Sangwan wants to forget the past and look ahead.
"I can tell you that it was painful time away from the game. But I had a lot of support from all quarters. During the 18 months, I got time to fix my shoulder problem as I underwent surgery in UK. After that I concentrated in an extensive rehabilitation programme. I used to just count days when I would return to the field and devoted my time in rehab," said Sangwan, who, as a 17 year-old, took 33 wickets in Delhi's last successful Ranji Trophy campaign back in 2007-08.
The left-arm pacer, who has 123 wickets from 38 first-class games, however, went on the decline despite being touted as a special talent. But he is now ready to make a comeback after a long lay-off.
"In the past few years, the shoulder problem led to some technical glitches in my bowling. I had the natural ability to bowl both in-swing and out-swing but I lost a lot of zip. To swing the ball, you need a good shoulder along with wrist position. With my shoulder troubling me, my performance went down. Now I am hundred percent fit and waiting to get back to performing for Delhi," said Sangwan.
During his time in the wilderness, Sangwan said he received a lot of support from senior players like Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra and Gautam Gambhir.
"Viru paaji (Sehwag), Gautam bhaiya (Gambhir) and Ashish bhaiya (Nehra) used to call me up and tell me that my focus should be on proper training once my rehab was complete. I was bowling at the nets at the academy run by my coach A N Sharma."
His contemporary Virat Kohli is leading India and another team mate from his Under-19 days Ravindra Jadeja has become an important member of the Indian team.
Does he feel bad about it and Sangwan said, "Not at all. In fact Virat (Kohli) and Jadeja's presence in the senior Indian team motivates me. We have played for India U-19s together. I question myself that I am 24 only and if they can play for India, why can't I?," said Sangwan.
