by “Virat [Kohli] “I was India’s captain back then and after playing under him for RCB, I used to talk to him when there was pressure and he would calm me down,” Saini said of his early days with India.
“Fast bowling helps you create more opportunities to take a wicket,” he said. “This puts a lot more strain on your body. This in turn makes you vulnerable to injury. So you never know how or when you might get injured when you try to bowl at such a high pace.”
“You’re just trying your best to focus on your fitness and it’s difficult to pinpoint a reason why someone gets injured more often than others.”
“It was all tailored to the preparation. I put in the same efforts day in and day out in training and then followed the same routine in the game,” said Saini. “I can’t slow down, that’s my strength. I don’t want to sacrifice a bit of it; After all, speed is my identity. I have always played cricket the same way and I intend to continue playing that way.”
But doesn’t that make him more susceptible to injury?
“No, sir. All I know is that I have to take care of everything properly. Sometimes you have to sacrifice something to gain something else. The competition is so great these days that I never want to slow down my pace, something that is unique.” For me it is like that [up to] my quality if I can bowl continuously at this pace for four or five days in a row.
Shami bhai thinks I should continue to achieve the 6-8 meter length; This will stop me from losing runs and protect me from wickets. I always follow Shami bhai
Saini about the help he received from Shami
“I paid more attention to my diet, rest and recovery,” he said. “I tried to sleep on time and keep a specific time for training to make sure I met all the criteria. I was at NCA for a camp. The physiotherapists and trainers there are really good: they created a program, and they helped me a lot to create a plan for your training program. This also includes the little things, like a good warm-up.
During a trip to NCA, Saini was able to spend some time with Shami, whom he greatly admires. Saini remains keen to improve his bowling and doesn’t miss the opportunity to speak to Shami.
“Shami bhai “He always advised me not to bowl too full,” Saini said. “He keeps telling me that I’m a bowler who hits the deck and that the ball moves.” [sideways] after I opened it. He thinks I should continue to achieve the 6-8 meter length; This will stop me from losing runs and protect me from wickets. I always follow Shami bhai.”
As Shami said, Saini’s first wicket of the 2024-25 domestic season came with a ball that went in. While playing for India B against India A in the Duleep Trophy, Saini walked on the fuller side of a length around the sixth stump. Shubman Gill shouldered his arms but the ball flew back sharply and hit the middle of the off-stump at 140 km/h.
“I played a red-ball match after seven-eight months,” he said. “And since it was a four-day game, I also learned about my fitness – like how much work I’ve done on myself and where I’m at.”
Saini’s pace was around 135 kmph against India A, with two catches taken away from him while bowling. He is happy with his performance in the season-opening Duleep Trophy and also with how he has developed this year.
“There is some confidence there [makes me think] “Yes, I am on the right track and I should continue to follow this process,” he said.
When you look at Saini’s numbers across all formats, there is little to choose from – his averages in First Class cricket, List A and T20 are 28.97, 30.46 and 30.80 respectively. But he sees the longest format as his strength and hopes a remarkable domestic season can take him to Australia.
For now, however, the goal is to stay fit and productive and – regardless of the injuries in what has been an up-and-down career – to never give up the pace. Finally, Saini believes that the competition among fast bowlers in India is currently the toughest.
“It’s never been like this,” he said. “But I know how I have played cricket so far and what I have done since the beginning. And I’m going to stick with it.”
Himanshu Agrawal is an editor at ESPNcricinfo
