Zaheer Khan wants to see Navdeep Saini part of India’s Test set-up

Fast bowler Navdeep Saini has come up fast through the ranks in Indian cricket. The 26-year-old has been picked for the national side for a couple of T20I series recently. He played in both the T20I games against South Africa but picked just one wicket. Former India spearheads Zaheer Khan has wished to see the Delhi pacer in the Test set-up as well for he thought it suits the bowler who can generate some serious pace.

Saini made a dream debut for India last month when he rattled the West Indian batting line-up in a T20I in Lauderhill by taking three wickets for 17, two of which came in consecutive deliveries. India won the game by four wickets and Saini won the Man of the Match award as well. He got rid of two of the best West Indies batsmen – Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer. He also varied his pace around 150 kph in that game. Navdeep Saini, however, has picked only three wickets in the next four games.

Zaheer believes that Saini’s skills could help him adapt to the red-ball format and wants to see him joining the potent pace battery that includes the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. “The longer format, that’s the format that suits Saini. Saini has got the pace and consistency in length,” Zaheer, one of India’s best left-arm pacers with over 600 international wickets, was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror.

Zaheer praises Bumrah too

Zaheer also praised Jasprit Bumrah who has made improvements in leaps and bounds, especially in Test cricket, over the past year. He recently picked 13 wickets in the two-Test series against the West Indies at an impressive average of below 10 and also pocketed a hat-trick. Bumrah is yet to play in a Test match at home and has 62 scalps in only 12 matches so far.

“I have always said that if he had that outswinger for the right-handers, he will be a nightmare for the batting sides. I am glad that it has happened now. He needs to work on his fitness and keep doing the things that have brought him this far. With experience he will keep getting better and better,” the 40-year-old added. Bumrah will miss the three-Test series against South Africa starting next month because of a stress fracture.

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