''When I was doing my MS from Maulana Azad Medical College, the idea was to go into a sports-related field. It's an exciting challenge when you not only have to treat players, but also get them back to their functional level,'' he says.

So when Virender Sehwag walks into his clinic clutching his shoulder-that forced him to cut short his Pakistan sojourn midway in the one-day series-another sports celebrity joined his long list of clientele. The Indian opener offered to pay for treatment but Bajaj refused saying, ''You do so much for the country, it's my duty and responsibility to get you back in proper shape for the benefit of millions of cricket fans.''

Sehwag's shoulder set right, he walked away impressed. Like his other colleagues. Ajay Jadeja, Murali Kartik, Amit Bhandari, Sarandeep Singh, Aakash Chopra, Amit Mishra, Rahul Sanghvi, Gagan Khoda-the list walking in at the Bajaj Specialist Clinic in Safdarjung Enclave is endless.

And it's not just cricketers. Mahesh Bhupathi, golfers Arjun Singh, Amandeep Johl and even Jugraj Singh have come visiting.

Although Indian cricket team physiotherapist John Gloster has been in regular touch with him over the phone and even discussed a few cases, there's no official arrangement between the clinic and the team. It's just word of mouth that's getting the players to his clinic. ''I don't have any official tie-up or affiliation with the BCCI at present but it feels nice when they walk in and say they want me to treat their case. I think it's the expertise and mainly the faith, the vibes the players feel from getting a treatment that they refer it to others,'' he says.

At present, it's not just the international but also first-class cricketers and junior level players from the entire north zone who are coming down with their problems.

Bajaj, who works with his team of four physiotherapists, admits that the pressure of treating a celebrity is considerable. ''The responsibility is more because they are national assets,'' he says. He feels that the players are becoming more aware of sports injuries-especially in cricket, golf and tennis. ''It's sad that football and hockey players and athletes who are most susceptible to injuries still go in for local treatment. One needs to understand that pain is a prevention mechanism by the body; a signal that says it's time to stop and take rest. Unfortunately, the pressure to keep performing is immense and in the process, they cross the limit and aggravate their injuries to an extent that it's impossible to make them recover completely.''

Bajaj has known sports, its injuries and has patiently heard the players' pleas for quick short-term treatment that will salvage their career but Bajaj insists he's never hidden a player's condition from him.

''It's important that every player knows what he's carrying. If you are into sports, injuries will happen. But yes, although on one the hand sports medicine is making great advancement, the competition, especially in team games, is creating an altogether different insecurity among players,'' he says.