Players have to perform well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to get a call-up to the Indian team, fast bowler Navdeep Saini has said. Widely rated as a future regular in India’s pace department in the pre-pandemic years, Saini’s last international appearance a T20I against Sri Lanka in July 2021. The 32-year-old was among the unheralded stars who incredibly powered India to victory at the Gabba against Australia to help the side seal a dramatic second consecutive Test series win in the country.

“Whether one likes it or not, to play for India, you have to do well in IPL . It is a reality. A year before, I had a shoulder injury and my pace dropped — it cost me an IPL contract,” Saini is quoted as saying by PTI after he returned figures of 2/20 in nine overs for Delhi against Himachal

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