India’s national cricket team’s 32-year-old right-arm fast bowler Navdeep Saini has exposed the BCCI selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar and said that only Indian Premier League (IPL) performance matters for selection in India.
Navdeep Saini, who shares the dressing room with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Indian team, said that to play for the India national cricket team, one has to perform well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and without that, wearing the blue jersey is not possible.
When I came I had nothing to eat – Navdeep Saini
Delhi fast bowler Navdeep Saini has represented the Indian team in all three formats of the game. He made his T20I debut against West Indies at Lauderhill on August 3, 2019, and gained his ODI cap against the same opposition at Cuttack on December 22, the same year.
He had to wait for a few more years to get his Test cap as he made his debut in the longest format of the game for India against Australia in Sydney on January 7, 2021.
Saini last played white-ball cricket for India in July 2021 during the Sri Lanka tour and his last Test came during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21.
Navdeep Saini, speaking recently with PTI after returning with figures of 2/20 in nine overs in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh, said:
“When I came, I had nothing to lose and even today, after so many years, I have nothing to lose. If I don’t dream of returning to India, I have no right to hold back a place in the Delhi team. What is the point of returning, holding back a place in the Delhi team).”
Over the past few years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has become quite strict and has made participation in domestic cricket mandatory for players who wish to represent Team India at the international level.
The initiative was first pioneered by Jay Shah when he was serving as the BCCI Secretary and received strong support from head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
However, Navdeep Saini doesn’t necessarily believe in the discussions that domestic cricket is the benchmark for national selection as he still feels Indian Premier League (IPL) performance matters most.
Saini said, “Whether one likes it or not, to play for India you have to perform well in the IPL. It is a reality. A year ago, I had a shoulder injury and my pace went down – that cost me the IPL contract.”
When asked if he should focus only on white-ball cricket, the fast bowler replied that he can do that, but he loves playing red-ball cricket. Navdeep Saini is also optimistic that if he takes a couple of wickets, he will be back in India’s plan.
Despite being out of the running for a place in the Indian team, Saini is still keen to wear the national jersey again.
“Yes, I can but I like this challenge of bowling in the day game. In the last match, I didn’t get wickets (in Hyderabad) because the wicket was slow. On this track, after tea, it became lively,” he said.
Navdeep Saini said, “Why not? If I have some fifers, I will be a part of the discussion again.”
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