IPL 2020 | Navdeep Saini a world class bowler who loves bowling at the death, notes Tom Moody
Saini starred with the ball on Monday
|Former SRH coach Tom Moody heaped praise on Indiaâs rising star Navdeep Saini and labelled him a âworld-class fast bowlerâ, who loves to take the responsibility of bowling at the death. With SRH requiring 29 off their last 3 overs, a double-wicket over from Saini sealed the deal for the Reds.
Despite Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) breaking the bank for Chris Morris and re-signing Dale Steyn to solve their problems on the pace bowling front, there was always a feeling within the masses that Navdeep Saini was going to be their go-to man. And in the clubâs season-opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Saini proved the loyalists right. After conceding just 18 runs off his first three overs, Saini came back at the death and finished the job for his side, castling both Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to shut the door on an SRH heist.Â
The 27-year-old has received praises from fans and experts alike around the world for his stellar showing, and in the wake of RCBâs 10-run win on Monday, former SRH coach Tom Moody jumped on the Saini bandwagon. Moody noted that the right-armer is a world-class fast bowler, who enjoys the responsibility of bowling at the death.
âSaini is one Indian bowler that excites me. He is a genuine, world-class fast bowler. Heâs got that pace, he is closing in on 150, he threatens all batsmen - not just the tailenders, heâs also got the top-order batsmen dancing on their feet,â Moody said in ESPNCricinfoâs âT20 Time-outâ.
âHeâs got that aggressive streak in him too, which I like. The other value he brings to RCB is he is one bowler that clearly enjoys the role of bowling at the back end of the innings. A good confidence boost for RCB knowing theyâve got one death bowler firing.â
Saini was not the only young Indian who impressed on Monday as local lad Devdutt Padikkal stole the show single-handedly, scoring a fifty on his IPL debut to remind the world to take him seriously. Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar, on the same show, reckoned that the 20-year-old batted a lot like Yuvraj Singh.Â
âHe opened the innings and looked so calm at the start of the innings. Reminded me a little bit of how Yuvi used to bat - tall, lanky with great timing. He just seemed so calm at the crease, which is such a positive for a young player who hasnât played before at the highest level,â said Agarkar.Â
While reminding fans to take Padikkalâs performance with a pinch of salt, Agarkar claimed that the southpawâs rise was a huge positive for Virat Kohliâs side.
âA big positive for RCB, and while one game is too early to make judgements on anyone, there are some real positive signs.â
