Broke into the Test arena after the retirement of mercurial MS Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha has emerged as India's first-choice wicketkeeper when it comes to cricket's most traditional format. The retirement of Dhoni from Test cricket after the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne in 2014 opened the gates for the Siliguri-born who had long been considered as the understudy of the former. In his short international career, Saha has not only impressed the commoners but also the critics with his quick reflexes and acrobatic wicket-keeping skills. It is true that he has established himself more as a keeper than as a batsman in Team India. For many, his athleticism behind the stumps against fast-bowlers has not been seen in an Indian keeper in living memory. With limited batting abilities, the 33-year old batsman has learned to play within his boundaries and has achieved success on that front. In the cash-rich Indian Premier League, Saha was signed by Chennai Super Kings prior to the 2011 season after being a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders side in the first three editions. But, the diminutive keeper found his calling with Kings XI Punjab when he bludgeoned his way to a hundred in the final of the 2014 edition, and proved his worth with the blade in the shortest format. In this year's player auction, Saha was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 5 crores.
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The 36-year-old Bengal player admitted that Pant and he are two 'keepers with a different skill set and it's up to the team to decide whom it wants to pick between the two.
Wriddhiman Saha believes that Rishabh Pant's strong show in the Australia series doesn't necessarily mean that his own time in the Indian team is at an end.
India could also draft in either Mayank Agarwal or Prithvi Shaw as a specialist batsman.
Wriddhiman Saha took a brilliant diving catch to remove the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne on 73.
Saha, on Friday, was dropped from the Boxing Day Test due to his poor batting form in the opening game and Gambhir asked whether the team's think-tank will do the same with Pant if he fails in the next two games.
Pant also boasts an impressive batting record in Australia, having scored 350 runs at an average of over 50 in 4 Tests during the 2018-19 tour.
With four days to go before the second Test begins at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, here are some of the areas that the Indian team management might look for changes
Saha averages 30 plus in 37 Tests with 1238 runs and three hundreds in his kitty.
Saha, 36, was selected ahead of Pant in the first warm-up game against Australia A.
Saha played as a batsman in the second warm-up tie while the management brought in Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper.
Wriddhiman Saha remained unbeaten on 54 as the first warm-up game ended in a draw.
Wriddhiman Saha sustained double hamstring injury during IPL and is currently with the Indian team in Australia while recuperating from the knock, KL Rahul remains first choice 'keeper in ODIs.
In a video shared by BCCI on its official Twitter handle, Wriddhiman was seen batting for the first time since his hamstring injury while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020.
Ishant Sharma, who had suffered an abdominal muscle tear during IPL 2020, will reach Australia before the Test series. He is presently at the NCA undergoing rehab.
It will now depend on what call BCCI mandarins take considering that physio Nitin Patel's medical reports have of late come under scanner due to divergent views of the IPL franchises.
Saha's free stroke playing seemed to have helped Warner rediscover himself and return to his aggressive self which has once again strengthened SRH's top-order batting.
The SRH skipper puts on a 150-run stand for opening wicket with Wriddhiman Saha in 10-wicket win vs MI; knocks out KKR to set up Eliminator match against RCB.
Saha had picked up the niggle during his match-winning innings of 87 off 45 balls against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday and didn't keep wickets with substitute Shreevats Goswami replacing him.
Wriddhiman Saha scored a brilliant 87-run knock off just 45 deliveries to steer SRH to a strong total of 219/2 against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday.
After being put to bat first, SRH's run-flow was bolstered by the opening stand between skipper Warner and Wriddhiman Saha.
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