Rajneesh Gurbani and Navdeep Saini will be on the radar of IPL teams: Lakshmipathy Balaji

Former India cricketer Lakshmipathy Balaji feels that young Indian domestic partners Rajneesh Gurbani and Navdeep Saini will be on the radar of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises ahead of the upcoming auctions to be held later this month.

Vidarbha pacer Rajneesh Gurbani became the second cricketer to register a hat-trick in the final of a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi on Saturday.

The 35-year-old Balaji admitted that IPL has proved to be an ideal platform for young Indian pacers.

“Over the years, IPL has been an ideal platform for young Indian pacers to flourish. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Jaydev Unadkat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Mohammad Siraj have all benefitted from the IPL. I believe upcoming pacers like Saini and Gurbani would be on the radar of IPL franchises,” Balaji said on Saturday.

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Balaji, who is the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders also mentioned that the current Indian bowlers have benefitted from the cash-rich league.

“Pandya’s ability to generate bounce was evident after his show in the IPL. Bhuvi’s transformation as a lethal death bowler and a skillful new-ball pacer was because of the IPL. Unadkat made a comeback into the Indian team after his impressive show in the T20 league and Siraj has been provided with a lot of opportunities. IPL gives a bowler the platform to bowl at pretty much in an international environment,” Balaji stated.

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Former Tamil Nadu cricketer B. Kalyanasundaram, who was the first cricketer to notch up a hat-trick in Ranji Trophy also agreed to Balaji’s word.

“There will be expectations on Gurbani now. He has an exceptional ability to bring the ball back into batsmen. He has to show that he is consistent. I strongly believe he has the talent and right attitude to play at that level. He could well be on the radar of IPL teams. Both Saini and Gurbani have it in them to play for India,” Kalyanasundaram said.

Also Read: rampant Rajneesh Gurbani becomes second cricketer to seal hat-trick in Ranji Trophy’s grand finale