Exclusive: Navdeep Saini Undeterred by Selection Setbacks Stays Ready for Red-Ball Cricket

Navdeep Saini clocked 150K effortlessly when he made inroads into top-flight cricket in 2019-20. The speedster turned out in 11 T20Is, eight ODIs, and two Tests before falling in the pecking order in the last four years. Mohammed Siraj and new talents Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna are seen as the next generation of pacers, but Saini remains an underdog.

He holds domestic cricket in high regard, frequently showcasing moments of sheer brilliance that light up the field. Saini was one of the top three wicket-takers in the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 with 14 scalps in three matches at an economy of 3.84.

Disappointed with India A snub

The speedster went two seasons without Indian Premier League offers but continued training. To revive his career, the 32-year-old didn't think twice about his seniority in the IPL [32 matches] before enrolling as a net bowler for Delhi Capitals this year. 

He wanted to maintain the rhythm and be ready in case of a sudden call-up, like his Test debut in the victorious tour of Australia in 2020-21, where he replaced Umesh Yadav.

His non-inclusion in the India A squad hurt him more than the IPL snub since he was a regular player.

"Though I didn't get selected for the IPL, I thought I would stick to DC and try to create an opportunity. I almost did it, but I don't know what happened thereafter. I was disappointed I didn't get picked for the India A squad for the tour of England. Most of my A tours have gone well," Saini told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interaction.

Saini is currently polishing his red-ball skills knowing that opportunities can come anytime as fast bowlers are injury-prone. 

"If a series is coming, I keep myself ready irrespective of my chances of selection. Chances are always there, and anything can happen. The A tour has not started yet [starts May 30], which will be followed by the five-Test series. I am training for four-day cricket now."

"Even in Duleep Trophy, I had kept myself prepared. And initially, I wasn't there, but I replaced Siraj [as he was ill] in the India B squad, and ended as one of the top wicket-takers," said the fast bowler, who made his white-ball and IPL debut under Virat Kohli's leadership.

Shami, an all-time great

Mohammed Shami did not make it to the India squad for the five-match Test series in England due to fitness issues, and the cricket fraternity is already speculating on another retirement. Saini, however, felt it was a matter of time before Shami made the ball talk again. 

He emphasised that Shami's struggles in the ongoing IPL shouldn't overshadow his exceptional skills with the red ball. "There is no doubt that Shami is the best in red-ball cricket. One cannot compare his white-ball franchise cricket form with Tests.

"You think of a bowler who has done well for India in Tests over some time, you only think of Shami. He has consistent match-winning performances. I have learned a lot looking at him. We are all proud of Shami. When you do well, people talk about good things, and when you don't, they pick on little things. Speaking and learning from him has been a big thing for me," said Saini.

Apart from shining in the Duleep Trophy, Saini won the Man of the Match award for returning 4/37 against Madhya Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare Trophy outing, and a match-winning first-innings spell of 3/62 against Railways in the Ranji Trophy.

He needs to outperform his own numbers consistently, especially to compete with the younger crop such as Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

Navdeep Saini wickets