(Source X)
India’s wicketkeeper-batter, Wriddhiman Saha, recently made a significant declaration about his priorities. He emphasized that his primary focus is not on the Indian Premier League (IPL) but on excelling with his state team, Bengal, and contributing to their pursuit of the Ranji Trophy.
Saha, a seasoned figure in Indian cricket, has long been a pivotal player, especially noted for his impressive wicketkeeping skills and crucial batting contributions in Test matches. His ability to rescue the team from tough situations has earned him considerable respect.
In addition to his notable Test career, Saha has been a stalwart in the IPL, showcasing his experience and contributing significantly to various teams. His performance in both the IPL and domestic cricket has been marked by valuable innings and dependable keeping.
For the upcoming domestic season, Saha will return to represent Bengal after spending the last two years with Tripura. This shift marks his return to his former state team.
Although he has been a regular fixture in the IPL since its inception, Saha revealed in an interview with MyKhel that while he is in discussions with Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra, his primary concentration remains on his commitments to Bengal rather than IPL retention.
“I talk with everyone. But the team selection for IPL is in December, hence I haven’t thought about it. My responsibility is to play on the ground, team selection is not in my hands,”
“My sole focus is to play well for Bengal and perform for my state. I am thinking about the Ranji Trophy first, no such emphasis on IPL at the moment,”
With the IPL 2024 approaching its mega auction and teams reportedly permitted to retain up to six players, it will be intriguing to see whether the Gujarat Titans decide to keep Wriddhiman Saha in their squad.
“Being in the Indian team itself is a big thing”- Wriddhiman Saha
Wriddhiman Saha discussed the difficulties of securing a spot in the Indian team, noting that while bowlers often get opportunities due to workload management strategies, it remains a significant challenge for batters to break into the national side.
“Being in the Indian team itself is a big thing. Yes, the bowlers are getting chances because some bowlers get rested, but the batters like Abhimanyu Easwaran, all-rounder such as Shahbaz Ahmed are getting into the team because of their performances, which is a positive for Bengal cricket.”
Bengal has produced several notable cricketers who have represented India, including Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar. However, since Manoj Tiwary and Wriddhiman Saha, no frontline batter from Bengal has worn the Indian jersey.
