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XtraTime Web Desk: The 26 years old rookie pacer Navdeep Saini has the raw pace and on a fast pitch is more than furious than many fast bowlers. Saini is just one step away to live his dream after getting a chance in T20I and ODI squad against West Indies which is set to begin from August 3.

Navdeep, who can bowl on an average of 150kmph, was second in the list of highest wicket takers list of the 5-match unofficial ODI series in West Indies for India A. In his first Indian Premier League season with Royal Challengers Bangalore Saini bowled the fastest ball among the Indians with 152.85 kmph, which was overall in second after South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada who bowled at 154.23 kmph.

In the 2019 season, he picked 11 wickets in 13 matches, bowling 141 dot balls - needless to say, Saini was again among the top bowlers in the 12th season of the Indian Premier League.

Till 2013, Navdeep Saini, had not played a lot of cricket with the leather ball. He used to play with tennis balls in his hometown and he would often earn Rs 200 per match.

Few people know that Saini's cricketing journey began after he was identified by former India opener Gautam Gambhir during a 15-minute net session. Those 15 minutes later proved to be a groundbreaking time for his career.

Giving full credit to Gambhir for identifying his talent, Navdeep Saini said: "I can never forget Gautam bhaiya's contribution in my career. It's all because of him I'm here. Every time I do something, Gautam bhaiya's name will always come.

"After my family, it's always Gautam bhaiya. I played nowhere, even in Haryana nobody knew me. It was Gautam bhaiya who brought me in and made me play for Delhi.

Everybody knows about it now. The way he backed me and trusted in my abilities, I would never forget in my life," he concluded.

In the recently concluded 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, Saini was in England as India’s net bowler along with Khaleel Ahmed to provide practice to the Indian batsmen during the tournament.