World Cup 2019: Navdeep Saini joins Team India in England as net bowler

Team India has been enjoying an unbeaten run in the ongoing World Cup in England and Wales. While they have won four matches so far, one game against New Zealand was washed out. Earlier, the team carried three fast bowlers in Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed with them to bowl at the batsmen in the nets. While the former two departed on the eve of India’s first game, Khaleel also returned to India recently. The fast bowler Navdeep Saini has joined the team in Manchester and he will now test the batters in the nets.

The 26-year-old has been setting the stage on fire in the domestic cricket and also did very well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). One of the reasons for his call-up could Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s injury who walked off midway through the innings against Pakistan and then also missed the Afghanistan game.

Bhuvi felt the tightness in his left hamstring and has been sidelined since then which might be worrying India now as the tournament is going deep.

BCCI’s confirmation

Navdeep Saini was also in the stand-by list announced by the selectors after the World Cup squad announcement. “Navdeep Saini has arrived in Manchester and he will train with the Indian team. He is the only net bowler here,” the BCCI media cell informed according to Hindustan Times. The management might also take a call on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s availability soon it seems.

He was seen training with the physio and the trainer Shankar Basu ahead of the Afghanistan game and jogged a bit. While there is still no update on his recovery, a lot will depend on how he pulls up at the nets on Tuesday as India prepare for their next game against the Windies which is on June 27. India are currently at the third place in the points with nine points to their name and another win will more or less confirm their place in the semis.