Xtra Time Web Desk: Rahul Dravid was asked about his opinion on Wridhhiman Saha at the post-match presser after India’s T20 series win. The head coach reacted with sarcasm before going into the crux of the matter.
“Thanks for congratulating us for winning this T20 series,” Dravid said before commenting:
“I’m actually not hurt at all, because I have deep respect for Wridhhiman Saha and his achievements, his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation with him actually came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and he deserved clarity. These are conversations I constantly have with players. I don’t expect players to always like messages or to agree with everything that I have to say about them. That’s not how it works.”
Since the Test squad was announced for the upcoming two matches against Sri Lanka, Saha’s exclusion has become a major talking point. The wicketkeeper-batsman told this paper how he had received assurance from BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and also his conversations with Dravid and chief selector Chetan Sharma.
Dravid agreed that it was a difficult conversation, which he needed to have with Saha to offer clarity and honesty.
“When you have difficult conversations with people, you don’t expect them to always agree with you. But that doesn’t mean you brush it under the carpet and don’t have the conversations. I truly believe in having those conversations before every playing eleven is picked. Even now, either me or Rohit will speak to the guys who aren’t playing and be open to answer questions why they aren’t playing. So, I’m not hurt by it. I think it’s natural for players at times to get upset and feel hurt. But I feel that Wridhhi, because of the respect I have for him, deserved clarity and honesty. That’s what I was just trying to convey.”