Multi-skilled spinner Rushal Saini's all-round show helps Bright Club win

The 20-year-old Rushal Saini has caught Delhi cricket circuit's attention with his ability to bowl both off-spin and leg-spin.

"I try to bowl off-spin to right-handers and leg-spin to left-handers as it is hard to play against the spin," says the player, who was vice-captain of Delhi under-19s in the 2023-24 season.

On Sunday, Saini picked 5/41 as he led Bright Cricket Club to a five-wicket win over Delhi Challengers in a quarterfinal of the All India Tyagmurti Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament, one of the two tournaments that have emerged from the splitting of the GG Dutt Society.

Saini was brought in seventh over by captain Mayank Gusain.

"I went for 10 runs on the first two bowls (six and a four) but then came back to dismiss the batsman caught behind," said Saini who represents Rohtak Road Gymkhana in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) League.

After a wicket on the third ball of his first spell of bowling, he took a wicket in each of the next two overs.

He returned towards the end to pick two wickets, one of which was with leg-spin.

Delhi Challengers folded for 179 in 38.3 overs. Kaif Ahmed ended as the top-scorer with 40 off 56 balls.

The target wasn't much but after a good opening wicket stand (57 runs), Bright Cricket Club lost five wickets in pursuit of the target.

It was left to Saini, a batting all-rounder, to see the team through with unbeaten 42 off 49 balls (6x4s).

Opener Gulzar Singh struck 55 off 42 balls (7x4s, 1x6).

"I began playing cricket when I was around 10. But then my dad put me in RR Gymkhana under Shravan Kumar sir. I have been learning my game there," said Saini who will now be eyeing a spot in the Delhi under-23 team.

Tags : Delhi Cricket, Rushal Saini, Rohtak Road Gymkhana, Delhi under-19s, Kaif Ahmed