Two players, one from Delhi and the other from Uttar Pradesh, were part of the India under-19 team's tour of South Africa and not quite certain to play the Ranji Trophy final. Till the BCCI decided to release them. They missed the semi-finals for the same reason.
In the hindsight, BCCI's generosity turned out to be a blessing in disguise, not just for their respective teams but also the players.
Pradeep Sangwan and Tanmay Srivastava played starring roles for Delhi and Uttar Pradesh respectively on the opening day of the Ranji final at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. While Tanmay, with a superlative 105, helped UP post a respectable total, Sangwan, with figures of 3 for 73, was the pick of the bowlers for six-time champions Delhi.
Tanmay, who scored 188 runs in four ODIs in South Africa -- including an unbeaten 105 and 50 in two matches against the hosts, and had scores of 18 and 34 not out in the lone three-day game before his return, was palpably happy with his efforts in South Africa.
"I made good runs on tracks there [in South Africa] that were very good. So, I'm quite satisfied," said Tanmay. He didn't take long to adjust at the Wankhede, bringing in his maiden ton at this level with a six off Chetanya Nanda.
His impressive 105 contained 13 sweetly-timed hits to the fence besides the above-mentioned hit over it and came at a time when his team needed it most.
"Despite the fact that we lost a few early wickets, there was absolutely no pressure and I thought I would play some positive cricket," said the 18-year-old. But the fact that he was out immediately after scoring his century left him disappointed.
"I was out to a rash shot and at a wrong time," admitted Tanmay. "Had I stayed for a little longer at the crease, it would have helped the team's cause further."
Sangwan, though, had no such regrets.
"The bounce was the same as it was in South Africa," he said. "But I had to adjust a bit at the start."
The 17-year-old, who scalped 12 wickets in six matches -- five ODIs and a Test -- in South Africa, instead had something to look forward to.
"Even while I was in South Africa I was preparing to play in this final," revealed Sangwan. "Now that I've three I'll definitely try and take five wickets."
With 27 wickets in his debut season there's no reason not to believe him.
And, what's more, even as the sun set, he had Tanmay lauding his efforts.
"He [Sangwan] and I did only two net sessions in South Africa and he didn't bowl to me in one of them," said Tanmay. "But having said that he did dominate the bowling," added the man who was one of Sangwan's three victims for the day.
