Birthday special: Navdeep Saini – India’s pacer who is still to deliver his best

For a long time, the Indian national men’s cricket team struggled to produce world-class pacers. Even when they did, the way they were looked after or managed were quite elementary. However, in the past few years, India have produced some quality pacers, some of whom have grown up from the ranks and then become solid contenders to become world-beaters.

One of them is Navdeep Saini, the right-arm pacer from Delhi. He was born in Haryana in 1992. His first big break came in 2013 when he was brought into the Delhi Ranji Trophy team. It was his lightning pace that impressed several people in the team and soon he was delivering regularly in domestic cricket for Delhi.

It took him some time to become the frontman but once he did, fans saw him showing all his skills and natural ability. He was picked up by Delhi Daredevils in the 2017 IPL but a bigger contract and an auction price of INR 3 crores came his way when Royal Challengers Bangalore took him in the 2018 auction. That experience helped him to gain recognition and has not looked back since.

In 2019, he made his ODI and T20I debut for India. The thing about him which was impressive was his brilliant pace, clocking up to 150 Kmph. His rise in the Indian structure saw also make his Test debut in Australia during the 2020-21 tour. Until now, he has picked up 13, 6 and 4 wickets in 11 T20Is, 8 ODIs and 2 Tests.

There is a lot of talent and potential but injuries have stopped him at times. His first-class numbers are highly credible as he has picked up 132 wickets at an average of 28.90 in 48 matches so far. Despite that stellar record, he finds himself out of the national team at this moment but has been putting all his efforts in domestic cricket to make a comeback as soon as possible.

Navdeep Saini turns 29 today and still has almost five or six years left in his cricket days. The Indian team will hope that he can keep himself ready and keep learning till the time he receives a call-up for the national side again. For now, we can wish a very happy birthday as he starts a new year in his life.