[Watch] Navdeep Saini 'Shatters' Stumps on Worcestershire Debut

image-ljcjm1piNavdeep Saini celebrates with Worcestershire teammates (Twitter)

Navdeep Saini made an instant impact on his Worcestershire debut this County Championship season. The Indian speedster cleaned up Derbyshire opener Harry Came off his first ball for the cricket club, during a Division Two championship game between the two sides on June 25.

Saini sent down three overs during the twilight stages of Day 1, while sharing the new ball with Worcestershire’s fast bowler Joe Leach.

Saini’s scorching in-swinger dusts out Harry Came

Worcestershire failed to bat out the opening day after captain Jake Libby had won the toss and opted to bat first. Navdeep Saini, batting at number 11, arrived to the crease at 234-9 during the final session of the day. The 30-year-old survived 13 deliveries before fellow tail-ender Dillon Pennington’s wicket folded up their innings for 237.

Worcestershire’s paltry total allowed them to have a late crack at their guests Derbyshire. Saini, on his first stint for the cricket club, made instant impact off his opening over as he rattled visiting opener Harry Came’s gates with a scorching in-swinging delivery.

Notably, the Indian speedster had also impressed one-and-all on his County Championship debut for Kent last season. He claimed five wickets in the first-innings, and another two in the second to complete a seven-wicket match-haul in Kent’s away fixture against Warwickshire.

The domestic veteran is now slated to join the Indian team for their upcoming tour of West Indies, a commitment which will cut short his four-match deal with Worcestershire this season. While speaking with a news outlet, he said:

“Getting one game before the West Indies series will be good preparation for me to get some overs under my belt.”

Team India will face hosts West Indies in a two-match Test series between July 12 and July 24. The matches will also launch India’s campaign for the 2023-25 WTC cycle.