Meet the uncapped player who is set to be assessed as a future prospect

Along with Shardul Thakur, Delhi pace sensation Navdeep Saini has also received a premature call to South Africa. The duo has been called up to assist the Indian batsmen in the nets ahead of the third Test in Johannesburg on January 24. The visitors have already lost the series after going down comprehensively in the first two matches in Cape Town and Centurion.

The decision is in keeping with what the team management had done earlier, including the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Ankit Rajpoot and Basil Thampi to bowl in the nets ahead of this Test series. However, according to sources, Saini will be travelling not just as a net bowler for Indian batsmen but also as a future prospect for the team after his prolific domestic season.

Saini took over 30 wickets in a sensational Ranji outing, the highlight of which was him running through a strong Bengal line-up in the semifinals. The speedster’s inclusion is eye-catching as well. He had been part of the management’s plans to arrive here with the previous touring party but had stayed back to help Delhi finish runners-up in the Ranji Trophy.

A team spokesperson privy to the developments revealed to Indian Express, “Saini’s inclusion is important because it is in keeping with the rotation and intended experimentation in the pace department. His name has cropped up recently in selection meetings and he could be on the fringes of the Indian team. This will be an opportunity to take a look at him, and maybe he will get involved with the team in the near future.”

Can’t rely on local net bowlers

It ought to be recalled that India forewent the chance of a practice match, and instead held net sessions in Cape Town before the Newlands Test. There is a school of thought that the team wants to prepare in a specific manner for the third Test to save a 3-0 whitewash.

With a green pitch in the offing, with a lot of pace and bounce, the management doesn’t want to rely on local net bowlers who “might not be up to the mark” to help in this endeavour. The ODI leg is slated to kick off on February 1 with the first fixture to be played in Durban.