If pundits are to be believed then Bengal’s wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha is the ‘best wicketkeeper available’. His selection was done purely on ‘merit’.
According to a well-placed source, Saha’s name was put forward by a selector who doesn’t represent East Zone and it was seconded by others, including the chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Saha’s inclusion, however, has taken everyone by surprise, even the player concerned. “I came to know about it while I was playing a match for Mohun Bagan and I couldn’t believe my ears…I knew I was on the radar, but never expected it today,” Saha told DNA from Kolkata.
Though stunned, the 25-year-old wicketkeeper, it seems, won’t let this opportunity go. “If I get a chance to play, I will give it my best and try to hang on to that level for long,” he added.
But Saha doesn’t want to lose his sleep thinking about whether he will get his chance or not. “I will carry on training the way I am doing currently,” Saha stated.
Saha, hailing from Siliguri, has been on the radar since 2005-06 season, when he was knocking the door of the Bengal team. But his time eventually came when eight Bengal players chose to sign for the ICL. He was drafted into the squad in place of former Bengal captain Deep Dasgupta. And he did justice to his selection by smacking a ton on his first-class debut against Hyderabad in 2007-08.
He came into prominence with the launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders, he was one of the most talked-about youngsters in the first edition of the T20 extravaganza. He was given the big gloves despite the presence of Brendon McCullum and Tatenda Taibu.
Saha will make it a point to seek advice from former India captain Sourav Ganguly, before boarding the Nagpur-bound flight. “I will surely have a discussion with Dadi,” he signed off.
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