NAGPUR: Unlike his other Vidarbha teammates,
Saurabh Dubey hasn't played any junior cricket. In fact, he got a feel of the leather ball for the first time in 2016. However, since then, this tall left-arm pacer is making rapid strides.
The 21-year-old will now accompany
Mumbai Indians squad as a nets bowler for the forthcoming 13th edition of the
Indian Premier League (IPL) scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from September 19. He was also called for the trials of Mumbai Indians before the auction last year.
According to VCA sources, Dubey is currently training under ex-India seamer
Zaheer Khan in Mumbai. "He has gone through a series of Covid-19 tests and also a mandatory quarantine period. It will be a great experience bowling to some of the best batsmen in the Mumbai Indians set up. Being a left-armer himself, Zaheer can help him a lot. This is where IPL is so helpful. It helps players grow as a cricketer," a VCA source told TOI.
Life changed for Dubey once former Indian seamer
Subroto Bannerjee
picked "the 6ft 5 inch left-arm pacer" from the nets in 2017. Bannerjee saw him bowl just one ball and the next day Dubey was included in the Vidarbha Cricket Association's Residential Academy.
Credit to VCA for not rushing Saurabh too early after selecting him. "Saurabh was far away from a finished product when he came to the academy. The support staff at VCA's academy worked on his fitness. He wasn't as strong as fast bowlers need to be. Bannerjee first and then Trevor Gonsalves (current Vidarbha Under-23 coach) worked on his bowling. Trevor, in fact, has played a major role in his development. It also helped Saurabh that he is playing under Trevor's guidance for the last two years," a VCA source said.
Dubey played a key role in Vidarbha's campaign in Col CK Nayudu Under-23 Trophy in 2018-19. Dubey captured 35 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 18.02 with 2 five-wicket and 1 four-wicket hauls as Vidarbha reached the semifinal stage.
Last November, Saurabh became the first from Vidarbha to be picked for India Under-23 One-day bi-lateral series against Bangladesh. A fortnight later, he was selected in the India team for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup to be held in Bangladesh. The speedster also attended the National Cricket Academy camp earlier last summer. Earlier this year, Saurabh was part of the Vidarbha team that won their maiden Col CK Nayudu U-23 Trophy in Indore.
The Wardha lad would be looking to impress the Mumbai Indians support staff and skipper
Rohit Sharma during the 53-day extravaganza.
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