Arshdeep Singh To R Sai Kishore: All You Need To Know About India's Net Bowlers For Limited-Overs Tour To Sri Lanka

With as many as five uncapped players receiving the nod for India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and Shikhar Dhawan picked to lead the side, it was not a surprise from the BCCI. Nevertheless, it was already on the cards as India’s several first-choice players would be busy plying their trade in Test cricket in England. India’s tour of Sri Lanka comprises of three ODIs and as many T20Is, set to occur in Colombo from the 13th to the 25th of July.

India’s enormous cricketing depth also means that It would also be the first time that the Indian team sends two separate outfits at the same time to different continents. Simultaneously, the tourists have also opted for five net bowlers, who have a massive opportunity to learn a lot too by spending amongst the senior players and Rahul Dravid. Moreover, they have a chance to play a game as well if any of the players suffer an injury.

We take a look at five players selected as net bowlers in India’s squad to tour Sri Lanka:

Ishan Porel:

Ishan Porel emerged into the senior team’s circles after making his List A debut in February 2017 and first-class debut in November that year. Ishan’s next big break came when he earned a selection in India’s U-19 World Cup squad at the start of 2018. The right-arm speedster delivered a match-winning spell in the semi-final against Pakistan, taking figures of 6-0-17-4 and took two more in the final to fire India to a title victory.

Porel kept performing credibly in the domestic circuit and toured New Zealand along with India A, where the tourists drew the Test series and lost the ODIs. The 22-year old was also bought by Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2020 auction; however, he is unfortunately yet to play a game for them. After touring Australia as a net bowler last year, Porel will travel to Sri Lanka as well in the same breath. He picked 13 wickets in five matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year and has 137 in competitive games.

Simarjeet Singh:

Simarjeet Singh is perhaps the newest entrant of all and will travel with the senior team for the first time in any capacity. Delhi pacer Simarjeet Singh has delivered promising performances in his limited opportunities, notably picking 11 wickets in seven matches at the Vijay Hazare Trophy and seven scalps in five games at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The 23-year old made his first-class and List A debut in 2018 and his first T20 appearance a year later. The right-arm seamer currently has 37 scalps in ten first-class fixtures, 19 wickets in as many List A matches, and claimed 18 victims in 15 T20s.

R Sai Kishore:

R Sai Kishore hogged the limelight from the Tamil Nadu Premier League and delivered telling performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy edition of 2019-20. The 24-year old grabbed 20 wickets in 12 games at an impressive average of 10.40. Based on those outings, the left-arm spinner bagged an IPL deal in the 2020 auction.

The towering left-arm spinner earned a bid from the Chennai Super Kings; however, the franchise is yet to give him a game, having warmed the bench since long. Sai Kishore also took eight wickets in as many games in this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament. Being the only spinner amongst the net bowlers in India’s repertoire in Sri Lanka, he could prep the batsmen well against the hosts’ spin-bowling unit.

Arshdeep Singh:

Before Arshdeep Singh’s List A and first-class debut, the left-arm seamer had already made it to India’s U-19 World Cup squad of 2018-19. Arshdeep Singh has primarily been impressive in the IPL for Punjab Kings when he made his debut in the 2019 edition. Not only does Singh bowls with the new ball, but he also performs well in the slog overs.

The 22-year old, who is the only left-arm seamer amongst the four, performed well in the UAE last year and this year too. He picked nine wickets in eight games last year at 24.22 and has seven scalps in six matches this year at 21.43. Before IPL 2021 in India this year, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy saw Arshdeep snaring ten wickets in seven fixtures at 18.00.

Sandeep Warrier:

Sandeep Warrier is the most experienced amongst all the other net bowlers picked by the selectors for the Sri Lanka tour. The 30-year old debuted in first-class cricket in 2012 and his first T20 and List A appearances occurred a year later. But Warrier has not found success in the IPL yet, having played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders.

The right-arm seamer has featured in only four matches and picked a couple of scalps at 59.5. But the 30-year old has 186 first-class wickets at 24.43 in 57 fixtures, 66 victims in 55 List A matches, and 53 scalps in 54 T20s. Having played domestic cricket for nine years, it remains to be seen if Sandeep Warrier gets a chance in the international arena.

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