Navdeep Saini Under Observation After Bruising His Shoulder In The 2nd T20I

India pacer Navdeep Saini has been kept under observation of BCCI’s medical team after sustaining a shoulder injury during the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Wednesday.

While fielding at the extra-cover position on edge of the circle during the penultimate over of Sri Lanka’s chase, Navdeep Saini, who hadn’t bowled a single over in the game, jumped in the air to stop an aerial shot by Chamika Karunaratne; he landed awkwardly on the ground and laid there for a while holding his shoulder. The speedster was soon attended by the physio and was taken off the field.

Now, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has said that the pacer will be constantly monitored and a call on his availability for the third and deciding T20I will be taken on Thursday, the match day. However, he hinted that a change is likely as Navdeep Saini might not recover from the injury in less than 24 hours.

“In Navdeep’s case, I think the medical team is handling him. We will assess the situation, maybe tonight or in the morning and take a decision accordingly,” Mhambrey said in the post-match press conference.

“And I think, once the decision is finalised and conveyed to the selectors and the coach, I think we will go ahead and then if needed we need to make any changes, we will do that,” he added.

India adds all 5 net bowlers to the main squad:

India had to play will just 5 genuine batsmen in the second T20I as 9 players were forced into isolation on Tuesday, the day Krunal Pandya had tested positive for covid-19 and the second T20I was postponed to Wednesday. 8 players were deemed to be in close contact with Krunal and all were placed in quarantine.

The BCCI then added all five net bowlers on the tour – Ishan Porel, Sandeep Warrier, Arshdeep Singh, Sai Kishore, Simarjeet Singh – to the main squad.

Now, after Navdeep Saini’s injury, one of them stands a chance to make his India debut in the third T20I. Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh, after impressing everyone in the IPL 2020 and IPL 2021 with the ball and is someone who has a good variety of slower balls, is a likely candidate to replace Navdeep Saini.

So is Sai Kishore, the Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner. With the pitch assisting the spinners largely, Kishore, who can also be a handy lower-order batsman, could also be seen making his international debut.

Also Read: IND vs SL 2021: “Full Toss Changed The Course Of The Match” – Muttiah Muralitharan Opines On Sri Lanka’s Win