Selection issues do not bother the wicket keeper
Kolkata: India stumper Wriddhiman Saha feel there is no competition with Parthiv Patel for a place in the Test team after the latter impressed with the bat in the three test matches he played against England.
“There is no competition with him (Parthiv). I like to bank on my chances. I don’t go into any competition,” Saha told reporters in Kolkata on Thursday.
Wriddhiman has started training with his club team Mohun Bagan from Thursday after being ruled out of the Indian team due to an injury in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Saha who was supposed to play the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) local league match on Friday may miss the action as he is likely to visit his hometown in Siliguri.
“Parthiv has played well and the team has won so it’s good. Now when the selection will happen the picture will be clear.
“I don’t think about it. Parthiv is also trying to come back into the fold, so whatever selectors will feel right is right. I have never regretted anything,” Saha said the reporters on the sidelines of club practice at Mohun Bagan ground.
Patel scored 195 runs in three matches at an average of 65.00 with two half-centuries.
The wicket keeper from Bengal is grateful to Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble for inviting him to be a part of the series winning celebrations in Chennai. The wicket keeper earlier missed the series winning celebrations in Sri Lanka as he had to return back to India mid-way into the series.
“It was a nice gesture from Anil bhai and Virat to invite us to be present for the series winning celebrations and photo session. I missed the series winning celebrations in Sri Lanka earlier this year. So, it was a nice feeling.”
Asked to assess the Australian team which is slated to tour India in Februrary, Saha said, “It can be easier than England since they do not have a good record in Asia lately. There are few new Aussie players who have not played in India. It won’t be easy for them. At home, whoever plays are always favourites. There is our recent form also.”
Saha batted for the first time after the second Test where he got injured in the third week of November. The Bengal lad spent about 20 minutes at the nets.
“It feels good to be batting again. I don’t have a problem. I practiced in NCA (national cricket academy) also but did not bat there. This is the first time I batted after the second Test,” Saha said.
On the Decision Review System (DRS), Saha said, “Sometimes it is effective, sometimes it is not. DRS is best viewed by a bowler as he can understand the movement better.”
Saha said the team with a strong lower order will invariably do well in tests.
“Whichever team has more lower order contribution will do better. England also had lower order contribution before coming to India,” Saha said.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who capped off a sensational year by being adjudged the ICC Cricketer of the Year, is the best all-rounder in the world at the moment, Saha said.
“Ashwin is best all-rounder in the world. His wicket reading is superb, and he can read a batsman’s mind.”
Ashwin picked up 72 wickets from 12 Tests this year, for which he was also named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, becoming the third Indian cricketer to win the award after Dravid in 2004 and Gautam Gambhir in 2009.