In Pakistan’s inaugural net practice prior to their first ODI Cricket World Cup warm-up match, Nishanth Saranu, a lanky U-19 bowler from Hyderabad, attracted a lot of attention. At Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Pakistan will play New Zealand and Australia in the pregame matches on September 29 and October 3, respectively. At the same location on October 6, Babar Azam and company will make their World Cup debut against the Netherlands.
Nishanth Saranu, a U-19 cricket player in his second season, was one of many net bowlers available to the Pakistani team. After Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi ended their periods, the Pakistan support staff, which included the bowling coach, Morne Morkel, chose him from a bunch of other net bowlers. The young Hyderabad pacer was instructed to drastically boost his pace because Pakistani bowlers like Rauf and Shaheen are used to bowling in the 140-150 kmph area.
Nishanth Saranu, who stands six feet nine inches tall, bowled to tail-enders during their first practice before the eagerly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023, with the exception of opener Fakhar Zaman. The Pakistani batter thought the young player may succeed if he picked up the pace to deal with the extra bounce his enormous frame produces.
I can currently bowl between 125 and 130 kph. Sir Morne (Morkel) asked me to pick up the pace. Nishanth was quoted by The Hindu as saying, “He also asked if I would be ready to bowl at the nets of IPL side Lucknow Super Giants.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are idols to Nishanth Saranu, who aspires to play for Hyderabad soon.
Unusually, the former South African pacer, who is also pretty tall, seems impressed with the youngster. After the net session, the Pakistani bowling coach was eager to invite Nishanth for a potential future collaboration in the IPL. Nishanth went on to say that when it comes to idolizing fast bowlers, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc of Australia are his favorites.
In addition, when it comes to the young bowler’s short-term goals, the Hyderabadi wants to play first-class cricket for Hyderabad before considering the long-term objective of representing the nation abroad.
“I want to play both white ball and red ball cricket professionally. To represent Hyderabad at the first-class level is the immediate objective, he continued.
It is important to note that during their net sessions, Nishanth has bowled to batters from several nations, including Glenn Phillips of New Zealand. Since Pakistan will be in the city for almost two weeks, the teenager should have multiple opportunities to bowl.