The 26-year-old Navdeep Saini has managed to earn an incredible debut in the international career on Saturday (3rd August) during the Florida T20I against Windies. On this occasion, the former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir slammed the former Indian cricketers Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan, who earlier opposed Saini to serve for Delhi cricket team.
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On Saturday, India faced Windies at Florida in the first of the three-match T20I series. Saini made his international debut in this game. The right-arm pacer bowled impressively in the entire match as he had the bowling figures of 4-1-17-3. In his first international over, Saini bagged two wickets after conceding a sixer. His first over scenario was 0-6-0-W-W-0.
In the final over of that innings, Saini delivered a maiden over along with picking up one wicket. His bowling massively helped India to restrict Windies on 95/9 (20 overs). Apart from Kieron Pollard (49 runs) and Nicholas Pooran (20 runs), all other Windies batsmen failed to reach the double-digit score.
The 4-1-17-3 bowling figures were the joint fourth-best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in T20I debut.
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Meanwhile, after Saini made his T20I debut, Gautam Gambhir hit back Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan.
Young Navdeep Saini impressed Gautam Gambhir
In 2013, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) members Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan opposed to allowing Saini in the Delhi Ranji Trophy team. They considered the young pacer as an outsider from Haryana.
However, then Delhi captain Gautam Gambhir hugely backed Navdeep Saini. After facing Saini in the net for just 15 minutes, Gambhir supported him hugely for the Delhi side. Finally, Saini managed to serve for Delhi.
In last year, when Saini earned his maiden international call-up during the only home Test against Afghanistan, Gambhir criticised Bedi and Chauhan for their earlier actions. However, Saini didn’t make his international debut on that occasion.
My ‘condolences’ to few DDCA members, @BishanBedi @ChetanChauhanCr on selection of ‘outsider’ Navdeep Saini to India squad. Am told black armbands are available in Bangalore too for INR 225 per roll!!! Sir, just remember Navdeep is an Indian first then comes his domicile @BCCI
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 12, 2018
Once again, Gambhir hit back both of those former Indian cricketers on Saini’s international debut.
This time Gambhir tweeted, “Kudos Navdeep Saini on ur India debut. U already have 2 wkts even before u have bowled— @BishanBedi & @ChetanChauhanCr. Their middle stumps are gone seeing debut of a player whose cricketing obituary they wrote even before he stepped on the field, shame!!! @BCCI.”
Kudos Navdeep Saini on ur India debut. U already have 2 wkts even before u have bowled— @BishanBedi & @ChetanChauhanCr. Their middle stumps are gone seeing debut of a player whose cricketing obituary they wrote even before he stepped on the field, shame!!! @BCCI pic.twitter.com/skD77GYjk9
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 3, 2019
Saini has already played 43 first-class matches, 41 List A games and 34 T20s. The right-arm pacer has taken 120 first-class wickets, 65 List A wickets and 30 T20 wickets.