On Independence Day, S Sreesanth took to the field to play cricket after four years

Sreesanth stepped on the field for the first time in four years as he led a team in an exhibition match in Kochi Sreesanth was handed a life ban after he was charged with spot-fixing during his stint with Rajasthan Royals in Indian Premier League in 2013 “I am really happy that I am back and I am beginning my return from the same ground where it all began," he said

Even as Sreesanth battles the BCCI for letting him play for the national team after the lifting of the life ban, he stepped on the field for the first time in four years as he led a team in an exhibition match in Kochi.

The exhibition match was played at the ground where he first plied his trade and was cheered by a sizeable crowd, reported the Hindustan Times.

Sreesanth was handed a life ban after he was charged with spot-fixing during his stint with Rajasthan Royals in Indian Premier League in 2013 along with teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

However, the Delhi court where charges were filed against him, exonerated Sreesanth on July 25, 2015.

Sreesanth had approached the court last year after the BCCI failed to revoke the life ban after the exoneration.

The Kerala High Court on August 7, 2017, set aside the lifetime ban imposed on cricketer S Sreesanth by BCCI and directed them to let Sreesanth play.

On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, Sreesanth led the Playback Singers XI who took on a team of the Producers XI. He opened the batting and had a good outing with the bat.

“I am really happy that I am back and I am beginning my return from the same ground where it all began. Now from here, I want to reach Thiruvananthapuram and from there upwards and back to the Indian team,” said Sreesanth, who also as chief guest unfurled the Indian Tricolour at the club on India’s Independence Day.