'Making a comeback isn't easy' - Fast bowler Navdeep Saini aspires for potential India comeback [Exclusive]

Fast bowler Navdeep Saini is determined to make a comeback to the Indian team after a career impacted by injuries. In an exclusive conversation with CricTracker, Saini opened up about his struggles, aspirations, and his desire to don the India jersey again.

Once seen as the next big thing in Indian bowling due to his ability to consistently clock 140 km/h, Saini burst onto the scene with Delhi’s Ranji Trophy campaign in 2017-18, where his 34 wickets carried the team to the final. Following this, he earned an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019 and later a stint with the Rajasthan Royals. Internationally, he made his T20I debut in 2019 against West Indies, followed by his ODI debut the same year, and a memorable Test debut during the 2021 Border-Gavaskar series in Australia.

However, a groin strain in the Australia series, followed by recurring shoulder and abdominal injuries, sidelined him. His last appearance for India came in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. Since then, form and fitness have kept him away from the national setup, though he often travels with the squad as a net bowler. With 23 international wickets and over 370 domestic scalps, he continues to display his pace in domestic cricket. 

Excerpts

You’ve shared the dressing room with legends like Virat, Rohit, and Dhoni. Any memorable story you can share?

First of all, I am very proud to be able to share a dressing room with three legends. I have played a lot with Virat Bhai in his captaincy. I have played with him in IPL as well. The main thing is that I haven't played in the captaincy of Rohit Bhai. But I really liked one thing about him. When we were playing in BGT 2021 in Australia, Ajinkya Rahane Bhai was the captain.It was my debut match in Sydney. I hadn't bowled for 20-22 overs. At that time, both the batsmen were already set. Although two were out, the next batsman was set. When I was bowling, I thought that the batsman was set. The way I bowl, I wasn't able to do it. I had bowled for 1-2 overs. When Rohit Bhai came to me, the way he spoke to me in the match, he told me not to think that this is an Australian match, or an international match, or a BGT match. You have given so many performances in the domestic season, or in India A. The same thing is true here. It's just cricket. It's a Ranji Trophy match. There is a normal player in front of you. Keep that in mind. The way you bowl, the way you perform, bowl in the same way. He boosted me so much. The next over, I took a wicket. The pressure I had, whether it was my debut match or BGT in Australia, it was completely normal. I had only heard that Rohit Bhai is cool, his captaincy is different. He wasn't the captain in that match, but the way he spoke to me, that changed a lot.

You’ve played 21 matches for India across formats. Did you ever have direct communication with selectors about why you weren’t picked consistently?

I didn’t get any message on what to work on. However, I feel I have to maintain my pace, lines and lengths. I’ve been working hard since making my India debut. During my last Australian tour, I had a decent game time. However, I got injured in the Gabba Test. Though I made it to the Test squad many times, I couldn’t get to the XI. Nevertheless, I feel that whatever I’ve done so far, I’ve to continue doing the same. In DPL season 1 last year, I was making a comeback after a shoulder injury. I was bowling at 130 kph at that time due to shoulder recovery and couldn’t make it to the IPL that time. In DPL Season 2, I was bowling at around 148 to 149 kph and I had an average pace of 140 kph. No other bowler managed to tough that pace in that season.

How tough is it to make a comeback when India already has Bumrah, Siraj, Shami, Prasidh, Arshdeep, and more pacers in line?

It's not that it's easy. Playing in India is a big thing. In such situations, you have to work a little harder than you have done before. Because you have to come back. If you have quality, you come back. If you have worked hard, you come back. You have to work a little harder, but it's not impossible. Everything is possible.

You’ve bowled to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the nets — who’s tougher to dismiss?

(Laughs) Virat bhaiyya. I think I will get Virat bhaiyya out soon if I get a chance to bowl to both of them.

Your top 5 current Indian pacers

If I talk about the Indian team, there are Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. I will tell you the current players. Ishan Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. If we talk about one more bowler, I can say Arshdeep.

If we talk about your idols, who is your bowling idol from the start?

If we talk about the start, when I was young, I started watching cricket. At that time, I used to watch Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson. The way they used to bowl with aggression, the pace they used to bowl, their aura was different. As I started playing, I started playing domestically. Then I met Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. I talked to them. I saw them bowling more closely. Since then, I have seen both of them in a very good way. And I always believe whatever they say.