Temba Bavuma's white-ball outfit will get their summer underway with a three-match One-Day International series (CWCSL 2023 ODIs) against England

New Delhi Feb 20 PTI Seven years back the then 21-year-old Saurabh Kumar faced a common career dilemma --- pursue his passion or secure a safe future Employed with Indian Air Force on sports quota Saurabh was at the crossroads He had a secure central government job with all the perks but his heart pushed him to play professional cricket and earn that coveted India jersey There comes a moment in life when you have to take a decision Jo bhi ho lena padhta hai the 28-year-old orthodox left-arm spinner and newest entrant to the Indian Test squad told PTI in an interview It was a tough decision to quit playing Ranji Trophy for the Services I loved being an Indian Air Force man and part of Indian defence but there was a part of me that felt that I have it in me to work hard and play for India the cricketer who hails from UPs Baghpat District said I was posted in Delhi I played for Services in the Ranji Trophy for one year 2014-15 season when Rajat Palliwal was our captain Since I was a sports quota entry I didnt have to do any duty apart from play for Services If I had quit cricket then I would have had to do full-time duty he recollected the old days Hailing from a middle-class family his father worked as a JE Junior Engineer at the All India Radio His parents were firmly supportive of his decision to trade profession with passion It is amazing that when I told my parents that I am leaving Air-force job they didnt for once asked me to reconsider Both were very supportive of my choice It was my decision to leave IAF but when I saw that parents were supportive I got a lot of confidence to independently pursue my dream Saurabh said Left-arm spinners doggedness There is something about left-arm spinners that make them special and one of the character traits is the doggedness which Saurabh believes that he had in abundance Now we stay in Ghaziabad but during those early days of playing cricket in Delhi it was a big ordeal In my town Baraut in Baghpat district we didnt have great coaching facilities So I had to take a daily train to come to Delhi for my training at National Stadium he said For the uninitiated Saurabhs coach is Sunita Sharma the only female cricket Droancharya in India whose other notable disciple is former keeper Deep Dasgupta If I had a 200pm afternoon nets I left home at 10 am in the morning It would be a three and half hour train journey and another half an hour to reach the stadium And same while coming back It was tough but thats what helped me when I look back said the man who had 95 wickets in last two first-class seasons 2018-19 2019-20 When you are 15 or 16 year old you dont realise Aap mein junoon itna hota hai ki kuch bhi aapko mushkil nahi agta hai sir When you have so much passion nothing looks difficult Being tracked by Bishan Singh Bedi One of the turning points for Saurabh as a young cricketer was coming under legendary Bishan Singh Bedis tutelage Back in the day Bedi used to organise Summer Camps and a lot of youngsters practiced over there Bedi sir liked what he saw in my bowling He introduced me to the world of nuance about little things on grip and stuff No major changes as he liked my action and loved the areas I bowled into One thing that happened during those Summer Camps was I got a chance to bowl hundreds of overs Bedi sir had one mantra Mehnat mein kaami nahi honi chhaiye There should be no short cut to success he added Once he entered the UP age-group teams it was former state keeper Manoj Mudgal who backed him a lot and the result is 196 wickets and 1572 runs from 46 first-class games Unlucky to miss Irani Cup Saurabh during his two seasons of 51 and 44 wickets had once got a call-up for Irani Cup which had to be called off due to COVID-19 in 2020 When I was picked for Rest of India I knew that I am now on the radar of selectors I had been bowing pretty well and was confident but then it didnt happen and I lost my chance to showcase my talent in Irani Cup But he continued working hard Main kisi bhi cheez mein laga reh sakta hoon I can work hard for long hours without any fuss Life was about to change as he finally got an India A call-up to go to South Africa and played two A Tests in Bloemfontein He must have impressed the coaches as the senior team then kept him as a stand by bowler for the Test series It was a dream come true as I got a chance to bowl to the senior India players like Virat Kohli KL Rahul It was a massive learning curve for me They gave valuable tips that will help me improve as a bowler No IPL bids no regrets Saurabh was once picked for Rs 10 lakh by Rising Pune Supergiants back in 2017 but this time days before his maiden India call-up he went unsold at the IPL auctions But he has no regrets Not even one percent regret sir This is life Zindagi mein upar neeche toh hota rahega Zaroorat hai toh lage rehne ka There will be ups and down in life All you need is to hang on I am doing just that he signed off PTI KHS KHS AT AT

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 10 (ANI): Indian batter Hanuma Vihari said the team got the chance to learn and improve during the three four-day games against South Africa A ahead of the Test series.

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 9 (ANI): The third and final four-day game between South Africa A and India A ended in a draw in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 8 (ANI): Ishan Kishan missed out on a hundred but played a vital part, helping India A secure the first-innings lead before South Africa A put on a solid show with the bat in the second innings to end Day 3 of the third four-day game at 196/1 in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 7 (ANI): Wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan and Hanuma Vihari hit the fifties after India folded South Africa for 268 in the first innings of the third unofficial Test here on Tuesday.

Before team India visits South Africa, the hosting cricket board has announced a revised itinerary. Both teams will play three Tests and three ODIs, with the four T20Is taking place later. The three ODIs will take place on 19, 21, and 23 January respectively. Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirms the schedule of the tour. India […]

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 7 (ANI): Half-centuries from Tony de Zorzi, Khaya Zondo and a hard-fought 75 off 180 balls (8 fours) from the opener, Sarel Erwee helped South Africa A to a competitive score at stumps on day one of the final four-day clash against India A at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 3 (ANI): The second four-day encounter between South Africa A and India A ended in a draw following an eventful fourth and final day as bad light brought an end to the visitor's chase for victory at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Bloemfontein [South Africa], December 2 (ANI): India A bowling once again put on an impressive show with the ball before bad light cut short the play on Day 3 of the second four-day game in Bloemfontein on Thursday.