Navdeep Saini is an Indian cricketer who plays as a right-arm fast bowler. He represents Delhi in domestic cricket and has appeared for the India national cricket team in Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) formats. Known for his ability to bowl at high pace and generate steep bounce, Saini emerged from Karnal, Haryana, before establishing himself in the Delhi domestic set-up.
| Full name | Navdeep Saini |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 November 1992, Karnal, Haryana, India |
| Role | Bowler |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Domestic team | Delhi |
| International debut (T20I) | 2019, against West Indies |
| International debut (ODI) | 2020, against Australia |
| International debut (Test) | 2021, against Australia (Sydney) |
| IPL teams | Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals |
Saini was born in Karnal, Haryana, and was unable to break into the Haryana state side in his early years. He moved to play tennis-ball cricket on the Delhi circuit, where his pace attracted attention. Former India spinner and Delhi player Gautam Gambhir is widely credited with backing his selection for Delhi's Ranji Trophy squad after watching him at a club match, helping him secure a place in the state side.
Saini made his first-class debut for Delhi in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy season. He went on to be a regular member of the side across the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, building a reputation as one of the quickest bowlers on the Indian domestic circuit. He was also selected for India A on multiple tours, including assignments in the West Indies, England and New Zealand, where he played a significant role in lengthening his reputation as a bowler capable of consistently breaching the 145 km/h mark.
Saini was first picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise, where he spent several seasons as a frontline pacer and earned attention for bowling some of the fastest deliveries in IPL history. He was subsequently associated with Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals through the IPL auctions.
Saini made his T20I debut for India in 2019 during the home series against West Indies, becoming part of India's pace rotation in the shortest format.
His ODI debut came on the tour of Australia in early 2020. He was used primarily as a first-change seamer in the limited-overs side.
Saini was named in India's squad for the 2020–21 tour of Australia, the Border–Gavaskar Trophy that India won 2–1. He made his Test debut in the third match of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2021, replacing the injured Umesh Yadav. The series, marked by a depleted Indian bowling unit due to injuries, is regarded as one of India's most celebrated overseas Test campaigns.
Saini is regarded as one of the genuine pace options to come through the Indian system in the late 2010s, frequently clocking speeds upwards of 145 km/h and occasionally touching 150 km/h. His career is also cited as an example of the role played by Delhi's local cricket structure and senior professionals in identifying talent from outside the state's traditional age-group system. Injury setbacks, particularly groin and back issues, have at times interrupted his international availability.