Highly rated on the domestic circuit, these pacers made their breakthrough into the Indian team, achieving their dream of donning the Indian jersey in the longest format. And then their dreams were crushed before they could even rub their eyes, only to be never seen back again on the cricket pitch ever after in the Indian colours. In Australia, it was Vinay Kumar; in South Africa, it was Jaydev Unadkat; in England, it was Pankaj Singh but you get the narrative right?

But the narrative continued, as Siraj was overlooked for Umesh Yadav, who was considered the better experienced of the lot. When Shami was injured, Siraj was considered and when Umesh was injured, Saini was. Now that erupted the entire country, united them for this one cause - Saini doesn’t deserve the Test cap. Their solidifying answer, at least what they felt was that either Shardul Thakur or Thangarasu Natarajan was better. 

When the management were hell-bent on trusting Umesh for his pace, they ought to do the same with Saini, who if anything is staggeringly more consistent than the Vidarbha pacer. Coming into the Indian squad, Saini who represents Delhi in the Ranji Trophy on one of the lesser-friendly pitches for pacers has a phenomenal record; 132 wickets in 81 innings, at an average of 28.50. While leaving records aside for a second, the impression that the pacer leaves on the batsmen is humungous, the same that gave Jasprit Bumrah his place in the Indian team. 

Despite catches tumbling in and out, Saini’s work-rate on the first two days of the flattest Sydney wicket since 2013, he was effervescent and was constantly threatening the batsmen albeit still bowling the half-trackers. But for a second, just for a second, take the half-trackers out of the equation and consider this - he’s making his debut on the flattest track that is, considered also as a road with the youngest ever Indian bowling attack (in terms of caps). In no way, would you expect him to rampage the Australians and pick up five wickets. 

On Day 3, his performance came true to his potential when he was at his hostile best in one of the best spells of the Test match for the Indians. He came in with the steam, accounting for not just Marnus Labuschagne but Matthew Wade also. Not just that, when Rahane handed him the ball in the second spell when things seemingly looked dry for India, as Will Pucovski and Labuschagne were treating bowlers like dandruff, he came on and really threatened. Not just threatened, he accounted for the well-set Pucovski with one of the best deliveries of the first innings. 

After consecutively beating his outside edge, the lanky pacer bowled a curveball that swung enough to not create doubt in Pucovski’s mind but subsequently went on to expose his technique to the rest of the world. While Pucovski had announced his arrival with a half-century, Saini did his in a unique fashion - with a ripper. That showed why he was here, why the team trusted him the most. If you think of it practically, not as another defensive Indian fan, the next Test is at Gabba, one of the paciest wickets in Australia. That’s where Saini’s good would turn the blind eye. 

At the venue where the pace, the bounce is aplenty, Saini would be detrimental to the Australian hopes of having a faithful five days in Queensland, one of their dearest home venues. Saini has arrived, at least he has shown more than glimpses of what he is capable of, now it is up to the trust that could embark the Indian team on another journey. With Umesh Yadav struggling for fitness, India needs to trust Saini and get on board with the pacer’s abilities while still understanding the frustration that accompanies. He can’t become an overnight sensation but surely has all the signs to overturn his bad form into a faithful one for the foreseeable future. 

Update: Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Gabba Test, which only makes the management’s trust on Saini more important, with the Delhi pacer the closest to Bumrah in the current setup.