IND vs AUS: Navdeep Saini Is The Right Candidate For The Third Seamer’s Role For India Against Australia -Ashish Nehra

Former India pacer and veteran Ashish Nehra believes that India has to include Navdeep Saini in the playing 11 in 3rd Test against Australia at Sydney. Nehra backed Saini, saying he can make use of the conditions at Sydney Cricket Ground to generate pace and bounce.

Ashish Nehra feels that the selection for the third pacer should not be questioned even as Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan are in the race. While Saini was initially named in the squad, Thakur and Natarajan were added as injury replacements. Despite him going for runs in the ODI series, Nehra believes there is no justification for Saini to slip down the pecking order.

India already lost their key pacers Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharam who were ruled out of the entire series due to injuries.

“If you look at squad composition, Saini was the first choice and Shardul and Natarajan both came in as replacements for Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav,” Ashish Nehra.

“So if Saini was ahead of them during initial Test squad selection, I don’t see any reason why he would slip down in the pecking order. You selected him first, so obviously, you believed he was better than the other two. Isn’t it?”

Nehra explained how, Saini can trouble the Australian batsmen, whom he believes are prone to short-pitched stuff through his ability to produce fantastic pace and bounce. The former pacer pointed out that Natarajan is still inexperienced at this moment in the longest format, Saini seems to be a better choice.

“Navdeep’s biggest assets are bounce and extra pace. This is a Test match. How does Natarajan normally get his wickets? When people are trying to hit him. Also, you haven’t tested Natarajan by playing him for India as you did with Mohammed Siraj, who has risen through the ranks,” Nehra said.

“Similarly, Navdeep has also come up the ranks having been on multiple red ball tours of India A. In Test matches, batsmen normally don’t get out. You have to get them out. That’s the difference. On the Sydney pitch, you will require a bit more pace and Navdeep has that. There shouldn’t be any debate as such. Sydney pitches what I saw during white-ball games, it was very flat.

“So when kookaburra seam will flatten out after some time, you will require that extra pace that Navdeep has and also he can get a bit of reverse swing.

“Also this Australian team is susceptible to short-pitched bowling, unlike Matthew Hayden or Ricky Ponting of yesteryears. Navdeep can be used better as he bowls a mean bouncer compared to a Natarajan or Shardul.”