Watch: An emotional Sreesanth, playing his first first-class game in more than nine years, could barely contain his elation upon taking his comeback wicket.

Sreesanth was once one of India’s lead fast bowlers, but a ban for spot-fixing derailed his career. He has since discussed his story in an exclusive chat with Wisden India.

On his day in his prime, he possessed a wicked bouncer, with one such delivery to dismiss Jacques Kallis one of the most famed in Indian cricket history. This was a ball to evoke, if not quite recreate, that moment, with Meghalaya tailender Aryan Bora failing to evade a bumper and offering a catch to Kerala keeper Vishnu Vinod. Sreesanth collapsed to the floor in celebration.

Sreesanth claimed the last two wickets to fall in the innings, finishing with figures of 2-40. Kerala then racked up 500, before Meghalaya subsided for 191 to lose by an innings. Sreesanth was expensive in the second innings, but tweeted a reply to those who criticised his efforts.

There has since been suggestion that Sreesanth’s return might also be his last game. He is yet to play again, and, on March 1, tweeted a picture of himself in a hospital bed.

Watch the Sreesanth bouncer and celebration below:

Now that’s my 1st wicket after 9 long years..gods grace I was just over joyed and giving my Pranaam to the wicket ..❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #grateful #cricket #ketalacricket #bcci #india #Priceless pic.twitter.com/53JkZVUhoG

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) March 2, 2022