Wriddhiman Saha confident of making comeback to cricket after career-threatening shoulder injury

Wriddhiman Saha has had a nightmare 2018 due to several injuries. A hamstring injury curtailed his tour of South Africa while a thumb injury sustained during the IPL resulted in him missing the Afghanistan Test.

However, a combination of injury mismanagement, lack of proper care and confusion stalled Saha’s career.

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His struggles with a shoulder injury resulted in multiple trips to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for various rehab sessions. He saw three different doctors, took three injections. This resulted in the Indian wicketkeeper undergoing a shoulder surgery in the United Kingdom that ruled him out of competitive cricket for six months. Following the surgery, Saha has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation and hopes to be fit for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy in mid-December.

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“I am feeling much better now. I hope to be back in action by mid-December. I am preparing and training accordingly. Hope my body recovers in time and I'm fit to play (Ranji Trophy). I've started net sessions but I am yet to get match-fit,” Saha said during the launch of sports fiction 'Wiki' by noted journalist Gautam Bhattacharya at the East Bengal Tent.

Rishabh Pant’s gain

Saha’s pain resulted in plenty of gain for Rishabh Pant, who made his debut in the England series and has also been selected for the series Down Under.

The 34-year-old is hoping to perform well on the domestic circuit and stay on the radar of selectors, considering that India do not play Tests for a long time in 2019. “Everyone goes through the same cycle -- of performing well at the domestic level. You have to be match-fit there and then wait for selection,” Saha said.

India will start their tour to Australia with three Twenty20 Internationals, followed by four Tests and three ODIs.