New Delhi:
Wriddhiman Saha has been India's first choice keeper in the current series against South Africa. The 35-year-old, who replaced Rishabh Pant in the side and who made a comeback to the Indian cricket team after being sidelined for a year due to injury, was in brilliant form in the Pune Test. Saha took two stunning catches and showcased why he is the best keeper in the country. Ahead of the Ranchi Test, Saha was seen working closely with Pant. In a chat with PTI, Saha said he had a good understanding with the Delhi keeper.
"There's nothing (mentoring) like that. We just discuss normally the way the wicketkeepers discuss. With Sridhar and Pant, we three jointly decide on how to go about our wicketkeeping on a particular type of wicket. We always observe each other's wicket-keeping. We work hard in our practice sessions and have a good understanding and co-ordination among ourselves. We always try to point out each other's mistakes. It's been going well so far. Whoever plays in the team wants to contribute. As a wicketkeeper, I look to get sometime in the middle and if I get time I try to build a partntership and score a fifty or so. Everyone tries like that. Sometime it works, sometime it does not," Saha said.
Saha returns to the site of his finest knock during Ranchi's first Test which was hosted in 2017 against Australia. Saha, along with Cheteshwar Pujara shared a record 199-run stand for the seventh wicket. Pujara blasted 202 and Saha made 117 as India nearly forced a win against Australia but Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh played well to force a draw. Saha remembered the knock fondly.
"I have good memory of the last match. I made 117 in the last match. I remember how I approached the innings. I also remember the Steve Smith incident. If you see we drew it last time. We are 2-0 up in the series so this time we will try to make it 3-0 this time," Saha said.
The Bengal wicketkeeper said his entry in the Indian cricket team was due to strong performances in the domestic circuit. "I was out for a long time because of injury. I got a chance only after performing in the domestic and India A matches. I always continued the same preparation for batting and wicketkeeping and finally got and opportunity. I'm really happy to have contributed to the team," Saha, who made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s earlier this year," Saha added.
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Saha said the appointment of Sourav Ganguly as the new president of the BCCI will give Indian cricket a whole new direction. "He is aware of player's demands and knows what goes on between them. It will be an added plus to the team and individual players. I hope players will immensely benefit after Dadi (Ganguly) takes up the new role, especially under the circumstances. He has represented the country for a long time and then went on to dominate Indian cricket first as a player then captain. He can bring about a lot of improvements as he knows the game inside out. If something is not happening, Dadi can make it happen," Saha said.
