RANJI TROPHY | Tears of joy for Mehra after emotional comeback

Right after dismissing Mohit Avasthi on Saturday morning, Divij Mehra sank to the turf, tears rolling down his cheeks. For the lanky Delhi pacer, the moment was far bigger than just another wicket. It marked a comeback — emotional, hard-earned and deeply personal — after nearly two years away from First Class cricket due to a series of injuries.

“It’s okay to be emotional,” Mehra said after completing his five-wicket haul against Mumbai, his second such effort against the domestic heavyweight. “When I saw the schedule before the season began, I had promised my father that I would again take five wickets against Mumbai. So, after keeping my word in the comeback game, it was natural for the emotions to come out.”

Mehra had achieved a similar feat against Mumbai three years ago, but his career soon hit a roadblock. A spur in the heel of his landing foot forced him to the sidelines, triggering a long and frustrating rehabilitation phase.

“I was injured after that five-for against Mumbai (in 2022-23), so it felt very good to have contributed again,” Mehra said. “That injury kept me out for a long time, and as a fast bowler, it’s never easy to come back after that.”

During his recovery and subsequent return to competitive cricket, Mehra leaned heavily on guidance from senior India pacer Ishant Sharma. The two spent considerable time together during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“I spent a lot of time with Ishant bhaiya,” Mehra said. “He helped me set my routine and understand the areas I need to work on before the next season. He told me clearly what kind of training I have to go through and what my schedule should be like as a fast bowler.”

The feedback, Mehra admitted, was blunt but necessary. “He spoke to me sternly after one match — ‘dekh bhai, itne se nahi chalega’ (this isn’t enough). He made me realise things I couldn’t see myself.”

Mehra also revealed inputs from Rishabh Pant, who urged him to add pace and variation to complement his accuracy. “Rishabh bhaiya told me I bowl in the right areas, but I need to work on my pace and variations,” he said.

For Mehra, the tears were not of relief alone, but of belief. He will be hoping to not break down during the off-season and come back stronger the next season.