I'll Have To Work Harder To Get Into Test Side: Navdeep Saini

A bowler like Navdeep Saini would have been very much in demand in India a few years ago. Traditionally, India always lacked out and out fast-bowlers and someone like Navdeep Saini would have been an exception. However, things have completely changed now and India now boast one of the best if not the best pace attack in the world.

The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav are some of the most sought-after pacers in the world. This is the reason why Navdeep Saini needs to remain patient and the highly-rated pacer knows it. He made his much-awaited international debut during the T20I series in West Indies and made an instant impression.

Breaking into the Test side can take a bit of time and Saini is ready to work hard for the same. The Delhi star is hopeful of playing Test cricket in future but feels he will need extra hard work to break into the “strong” bowling unit of the national team.

“Our bowling unit in the Test format is very strong. When I was with the team (in West Indies) I realised that I’ll have to work harder to get into the side. Only by doing that a I might get a chance,” Navdeep Saini told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of All India Public Sector T20 cricket tournament.

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There is little denying the fact that Navdeep Saini features prominently in the selectors’ plan. This is why the team-management has been doing all it can to groom him. Recently, he was used as a net bowler in the Test series against West Indies. Speaking about the experience, he said he learnt a lot from his experience with the senior team.

“When I speak to bowlers like Shami, Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar in the nets I get a lot of help from them. At the international level error of margin is very less so I learn how to work around it in practice,” Saini said.