Taraori youth elated on bagging Rs3-cr IPL deal

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 28

The family of Taraori-based fast bowler Navdeep Saini (25) is on cloud nine after he was bought for Rs 3 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) yesterday. He was bought for Rs 10 lakh last year.

The family has been receiving greetings from their relatives, and residents of Taraori, Karnal and surrounding cities.

Saini dropped out BSc second year to focus on cricket. His performance in the Ranji Trophy has been impressive. He has represented Delhi in 18 Ranji Trophy matches. Saini was also a part of India A team for a triangular series in South Africa in July-August 2017. Now, he is in South Africa with the Indian team.

Saini told The Tribune over phone, “The IPL is a golden opportunity for me to prove myself. It is like a dream come true. My ultimate aim is to get a place in the playing eleven of the Indian team.”

Saini gave the credit for his success to his mentor Sumit Narwal, who played several IPL matches and runs ‘Cricket Academy of Narwal’ in Karnal’; his personnel trainer Ahmed Nasir; Gautam Gambhir, with whom he plays Ranji matches; and Indian A team’s coach Rahul Dravid.

Navdeep’s mother, Gurmeet Kaur, said: “Navdeep’s hard work has paid off.” His father, Amarjeet Singh, who retired as a driver from the Women and Child Welfare Department, said: “I watched the auctions on TV and was hopeful that my son will fetch a hefty price. I am proud of him.”