Jayant Yadav, Navdeep Saini added to India’s ODI squad vs South Africa

BCCI have announced an updated Team India squad for the One Day series against South Africa. Jayant Yadav and Navdeep Saini have been added, as confirmed by the latest cricket news. Due to the hamstring injury to Mohammed Siraj in the second test, the selectors have selected pacer Navdeep Saini as his replacement. Saini has represented India before but yet to shine for the Men in Blue. The 29-year-old Saini last played an ODI against Sri Lanka in July 2021.

In the favorable fast bowling conditions, Saini picked up 11 wickets in the first-class matches against South Africa ‘A’ before. It is now a golden opportunity for the 29 year old to show his worth by playing a good cricket match if he makes it into the playing XI.

Can These Two Players Make A Major Impact In The Upcoming Series?

His best outing for his country was a year ago in the test series win in Australia where he took a four wicket haul and even bowled with injury because the team needed his services. While recalling the happy memories of that tour, Saini said he had no choices but to give his best for the national side, even with a growing injury.

“Ajinkya bhaiya asked me if I would be able to bowl with the injury, I just had to say yes,” Saini, who was in the middle when Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs, told PTI.

“I was fine and suddenly I got injured. I was wondering why it was happening in such a crucial game [when I]got the opportunity to play after a long time. Just wished if could keep going with that injury and support my team. Knew I might not get a stage like that again. Captain asked me if I could do it. I was in pain but would do with whatever I could. Am recovering now and should be fit soon,”

What Did Off-Spinner Jayant Yadav Say About Being Picked?

Off spinner Jayant Yadav has been added to the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming 50-over games against South Africa, in place of Washington Sundar, who tested positive for COVID 19 during a cricket camp in Bangalore which made him ruled out of the squad.

Yadav, 31 years old, has plenty of experience in domestic cricket and has also performed well for his IPL team Mumbai Indians. He has represented India before when he made his ODI debut back in 2016. Recently he took a four wicket haul against New Zealand in the second Test in December, 2021. Yadav is already there in South Africa as a part of Indian team but did not get a game yet. When asked about his feelings to get a call for the national team again and his plans to bowl in fast bowling conditions, Yadav said he will perform to the best of his abilities.

“To be honest, on the last day after I took those four wickets and we won the game, I was just expecting to go back home and be with my family. I did not think too much about the future and what will happen. Think that is a very important, yet very difficult thing to do. But now that the squad for the tour is announced and I am there, I am looking forward to enjoying the experience.”

“Am not having too much of expectations of how things will happen or what will happen. I am just trying to talk to a lot of people who have been to South Africa in the past and just experience it to the best of my abilities. I have not thought too far about things. I will take it as it comes and see how the future holds.” – Yadav said in a recent interview to the media.

The first two ODIs will be played at Boland Park in Paarl on January 19 and 21 while the final match will take place at Newlands, Cape Town on January 23.

Updated Indian ODI squad: KL Rahul (Captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jayant Yadav, Navdeep Saini