Navdeep Saini, the Indian fast bowler, was taken aback when he learned about his return to the Indian Test squad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors showed faith in him by including the 30-year-old pacer in the India’s Test squad announced for the West Indies tour on Friday (June 23). The upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies, scheduled to begin on July 12 in Dominica, will mark the start of India’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
The BCCI selection committee revealed India’s 16-member squad for the West Indies series, which featured some fresh faces such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Mukesh Kumar. One surprising inclusion in the squad was Saini, who had been preparing to play in the County Championship as an overseas player for Worcestershire. However, due to the scheduling conflict with the Test series in the Caribbean, Saini will miss three County Championship matches.
Saini, who is set to make his Worcestershire debut against Derbyshire on Sunday (June 25), was surprised to receive the call-up news after arriving in the UK. As a result of his inclusion in the Indian squad, he will be unavailable for Worcestershire’s upcoming matches against Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Gloucestershire in the 2023 County Championship Division Two.
“I came here to play county (cricket), landing today itself, and the moment I got out from the airport, I received the news that I have been selected for the West Indies tour,” Saini said while speaking to The Indian Express from London.
Saini, who played his last Test match in Australia in 2020/21, admitted that he wasn’t ‘expecting’ the call-up in the national team. However, the Karnal-born right-arm pacer added that he was always training with the Dukes Ball and was expecting to get picked in the setup as a net-bowler.
“Honestly, I was not expecting this call. Yes, during the IPL, I was training with the Dukes ball because I thought I might get picked as a net bowler or would be among the standbys for the World Test Championship final. Hopefully, I will get to play one match before going to the West Indies. It will be good preparation for me to get some overs under my belt,” the Indian speedster further added.
Saini, who has claimed four wickets from his two appearances in Test cricket so far, has expressed his hopefulness and stated that he would do well if given the chance to represent India in the Test series.
“This will be my second tour to the West Indies. Last time I didn’t get a chance to play, but hopefully, this time I will. I know the conditions. The pitches are low and slow and similar to those back home,” Saini concluded.
The first Test of the series will be played from July 12 to July 16 in Dominica while Trinidad will host the second game from July 20 to 24. The two teams will square off in 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is afer the red ball series.
