Navdeep Saini became the 299th player to represent India in the longest format of the game when he made his debut in Sydney in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
During a discussion on the Sony Sports network, Zaheer Khan was asked how he would rate the lanky pacer’s first day in Test cricket, considering he was given the ball quite late and did not bowl too many overs either.
He replied that it would have been both a ‘memorable’ and ’tough’ day for Saini, as he would have had lots of apprehensions in his mind till he took his maiden Test wicket.
Zaheer Khan said that Mohammed Siraj was also at his best in the Boxing Day Test after taking his first Test wicket, saying in this regard:
The left-arm pacer expressed his delight about Navdeep Saini having already scalped his first victim. He added that the speedster could be at his potent best on the second day of the Sydney Test and should be judged on that performance.
“Navdeep Saini could play a similar role to that of Ishant Sharma” - Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan was also asked about Navdeep Saini being preferred ahead of Shardul Thakur as the third seamer in the Indian bowling lineup for the Sydney Test.
He replied that the duo employs different methods to scalp batsmen, with Saini being a ‘hit-the-deck’ type of bowler while Thakur relies more on movement in the air. Zaheer Khan further observed that Navdeep Saini merited a spot, as he has been waiting in the wings for a long time after being a part of the original Test squad.
Zaheer Khan also said that Navdeep Saini has been considered a promising prospect for the longest format of the game for a while. He signed off by observing that the lanky pacer could perform a role akin to that of Ishant Sharma if he performs to his potential.
Navdeep Saini bowled just seven overs on a rain-curtailed first day of the New Year’s Test between India and Australia in Sydney.
Although he was slightly on the shorter side at the start of his spell and proved to be a tad expensive, he seemed to have found his rhythm after scalping Will Pucovski’s wicket with a well pitched-up delivery.
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