IPL 2019 | Uncapped Navdeep Saini could make World Cup debut, says Ashish Nehra

IPL 2019 | Uncapped Navdeep Saini could make World Cup debut, says Ashish Nehra

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RCB's bowling coach Ashish Nehra has backed Navdeep Saini's selection and feels that the latter could actually make his debut this World Cup. Saini, who has been impressive in the ongoing IPL, has been named among the standbys for the World Cup along with Ambati Rayudu and Rishabh Pant.

Navdeep Saini has been one of the impressive domestic talents in the ongoing Indian Premier League with his raw pace and immaculate control drawing attention from many cricket pundits across the globe. His rise has been irresistible and has also been drafted among the World Cup standbys, which starts on May 30, and Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling coach Ashish Nehra said that Saini stands a great chance of making a debut.

“He's got pace and bounce and the most important thing is he's confident right now especially in this format because it's really quick," said Nehra, reported PTI.

"Within two games his confidence is high when nobody thought he will do well. That's the beauty of IPL. He's not going to come good in every game. He will go for runs but he's got all the ingredients to be a good bowler.

"Look where he's today. He is the first standby so if any fast bowler gets injured he (Saini) will be the one playing the World Cup," he added.

After being bought for a whopping Rs 3 crore last year, Saini didn’t play a single game last season but has been impressive in seven games he played in this season so far. Nehra also spoke about the questions that people raise on investing massively in Saini.

“He didn’t play last year. So many guys came up to me and said he plays only tournament games…. So many people were actually doubting his abilities and said you bought him for Rs 3 crores,” said the former Indian bowler.

The troika of Umesh Yadav, Saini, and Mohammed Siraj render bowling a joy to behold. However, barring Saini, the other two have failed to weave magic, especially in the death overs. “It’s not easy to bowl at the death in this format. Skill-wise, I don’t think there’s any other team who have got three good fast bowlers in one team. The next name that comes to my mind is Sunrisers,” Nehra said.

“Yes they have not bowled the way they would have liked to bowl at the death or up front. But they can do better than this. Every cricketer will not have the same season. Last year, Umesh Yadav had a really good season. These bowlers have the skill, hope they will do better in coming games. They are working hard,” Nehra added.

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