Indian pacer Navdeep Saini gave Worcestershire a flying start against Derbyshire in their County Championship Division Two encounter, justifying his return to the Indian Test team. With the batter Harry Came leaving the delivery, which later struck the stumps, the Indian bowler took a wicket with his very first delivery. Following Worcestershire’s dismissal for 237, this took place in the second over of Derbyshire’s inning. Saini got the call last week for the Indian Test team travelling to the West Indies.
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Since Mohammed Shami has been rested, there is a good likelihood that Saini, the only bowler in the team with a top speed of 140 kmph, will play for India. Saini last played in the historic Test match in Brisbane in January 2021, when India defeated Australia with Ajinkya Rahane serving as captain. It’s interesting that he didn’t take any wickets in that match, which the visitors won by three wickets and the series by 2-1.
For the matches against Yorkshire (July 10–13), Leicestershire (July 19–22), and Gloucestershire (July 26–29), Saini won’t be available. The 30-year old has been frequently seen at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru ever since his exploits at the Gabba, when he bowled during the second innings while suffering from a groin injury. Injuries kept coming for him, and an abdominal strain even caused him to miss the whole Ranji Trophy season.
“Honestly, I was not expecting this call. Yes, during the IPL, I was training with the Dukes ball because I thought I might get picked as a net bowler or would be among the standbys for the World Test Championship final,” Saini said following his call-up.
The first Test of India’s Caribbean tour will take place in Dominica from July 12–16.
India’s Test squad for West Indies series: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini
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