Navdeep Saini is best suited to play the Sydney Test match: Ashish Nehra

This past week, it was understood that pacer Umesh Yadav has been ruled out from the remainder of the series. T Natarajan was named Umesh's replacement in the Test squad. Former RCB coach, Ashish Nehra believes that Navdeep Saini deserved to get a place in the playing eleven. 

"If you look at squad composition, Saini was first choice and Shardul and Natarajan both came in as replacements for Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav," Nehra told PTI on Tuesday (January 5).

"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 other two. Isn't it," he added.

RCB speedster, Navdeep Saini's pace and bounce could play vital cog for India in the red ball game on Australian soil.

"Navdeep's biggest assets are bounce and extra pace. This is a Test match. How does Natarajan normally gets his wickets? When people are trying to hit him. Also, you haven't tested Natarajan by playing him for India A like you did with Mohammad Siraj, who has risen through the ranks," he remarked.

"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."

 Nehra justified the cause for Saini to be selected to play the match on Thursday, 7 January. 

"On 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," he said.

When compared to the other two, the 27-year-old has the ability to bowl bouncers that can trouble the hosts. Given that the latter bowls at 140+ (kmph) he could be a perfect fit for the Sydney Test match. 

"Also this Australian team is susceptible to short-pitched bowling, unlike a Matthew Hayden or Ricky Ponting of yesteryears. Navdeep can be used better as he bowls a mean bouncer compared to a Natarajan or Shardul. I am not saying by any stretch that Navdeep is India's No 1 bowler. He needs to improve a lot."

“Navdeep's average speed is around 140 (kmph) but out of the three, Navdeep is best suited to play the Sydney Test match," he further opined.

The BCCI on Wednesday announced Team India's Playing XI for the third Test match, including Navdeep Saini in the final XI

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (vc), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.