impressive debut in International T20 and INA connection of Saini

Indian history perhaps is to be taught far differently than what we read in history books as Gandhi winning freedom without spilling blood – that defies rightful place for many great freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of freedom for the Nation.  The Indian National Army (INA) was originally founded by Capt Mohan Singh in Singapore in September 1942 with Japan's Indian POWs . At the urging of their Japanese captors, almost 20,000 Indian prisoners-of-war had come together to form this army with the aim of freeing India from British colonial rule. Under the charismatic leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the INA from July 1943 until his sudden death in August 1945, the INA grew in strength and received significant support from the civilian Indian population in Malaya. After World War II, the British charged some of the captured INA soldiers with treason.

On 3.8.2019 – Indian debutant Navdeep Saini came out with flying colours on his International T20 debut against West Indies – he bowled a maiden in the 20^th over of the match !!

I had posted about him on Dec 20, 2017   .. .. .. not  many would have noticed him when Delhi Daredevils bought him for 10 lakhs – but many heads turned when Navdeep Saini managed to do what not many fast bowlers around the world can't: bounce-out David Warner.  In a tour match, the  Australian opener was sailing like he usually does at the top of the innings, racing to 25 in just 30 balls; the   two experienced India 'A' new ball bowlers – Ashoke Dinda and Hardik Pandya – were unable to trouble the left-hander even a little bit. But in the ninth over the day, Pandya threw the ball to a rather unheralded Saini. In just the fourth ball of his spell, the right-arm pacer banged one in at short of a length. It grew bigger on Warner than he would've expected, and the Australian top-edged the ball straight up in the air to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

Miles away in the Caribbean - West Indies allrounder Andre Russell ruled himself out of the first two T20Is against India after having returned to action after knee surgery, ostensibly because he experienced “some discomfort” while playing in the Global T20 Canada. However, having expressed his unavailability to the West Indies selectors, Russell turned out to play for Vancouver Knights against Edmonton Royals to stir up controversy.

Yesterday at Lauderhill, Florida,  India made heavy weather of a modest run chase after debutant pacer Navdeep Saini led an impressive bowling display but still managed to beat West Indies by four wickets in their first T20 International match here on Saturday. Chasing 96 for a win, India huffed and puffed before reaching the target with 2.4 overs to spare. None of the batsmen contributed big with opener Rohit Sharma top-scoring with 24 while captain Virat Kohli and Manish Pandey making 19 each. Man of the Match Saini claimed three wickets for 17 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two wickets to restrict West Indies to 95 for 9 after they were put in to bat. India 98 for 6 (Rohit 24, Narine 2-14, Cottrell 2-20) beat West Indies 95 for 9 (Pollard 49, Saini 3-17, Bhuvneshwar 2-19) by four wickets.

It was a scrappy first T20I at  Lauderhill: 15 wickets fell and fewer than 200 runs were scored in total.  After Saini and Indian bowler’s fine performance, chasing a small total,  India's watchful start turned against them quickly with a few quick wickets, but the game came down to slender margins in the end: India's five batsmen who got into double-digits outweighed West Indies' two as they stumbled over the line in the 18th over.  India opened bowling with Washington Sundar, and two of their seamers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed. Kieron Pollard is a household name in India for his IPL exploits.  He has only played 65 of his 430 T20 innings at No. 4, but his push up the order in an inexperienced line-up paid off.

Back home, one of Saini's biggest supporters is his "100-plus-year-old" grandfather Karam Singh, a war veteran whom he says had fought in Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA). "He used to be a driver in the INA," Saini said. "He is still remarkably fit and even rides a bicycle. He doesn't understand any cricket, but derives a lot of pleasure watching me play on TV. I am sure he would have been watching this game as well."- Saini had said in Dec 2017

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

4^th Aug 2019.