XtraTime Web Desk: India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha on Monday picked MS Dhoni over Virat Kohli as the best India captain he played under. The 35 year old stumper from Siliguri also picked former India cricketer Anil Kumble as a better coach than current Head Coach Ravi Shastri. According to Wriddhi, his first passion was always watching F1 races and it had remained so till date. In a freewheeling chat on XtraTime Bangla YT live, the world’s best wicketkeeper spoke about a lot many things. Here are the excerpts:
Lockdown
So far it has been going well. I don’t really go out if it is not required. When I am touring as well I don’t go out of the hotel quite often. I always prefer to stay inside room. So it is nothing different for me to be stay indoors. You can say I am used to lockdown. I am learning parenting during this lockdown. I remember when Anvi was born I could not spend much time as I was playing club cricket and also on national duty. I am also helping in her online classes. I have watched quite a few movies (Strangers, Lost in Space) on Netflix. Our fielding coach Sridhar has given us a few drills for us to practice. I am also training with my father (could not go back to Siliguri due to lockdown) so that I am not out of touch at all.
Kolay market days
Most cricketers who came to the city from other districts used to stay at Kolay market in those days if he has no relatives or accommodation in Kolkata. When I first came to Kolkata, I knew no one really. I started from Kamurtuli club. My friend Kamal Hasan Mondal also used to play in the same club. It was he who organized my stay in the mess after introducing me to Bablu Kolay. 5-6 cricketers used to stay together in the same room. We are connected with each other even today. We used to save our pocket money for travelling in buses to the maidan to go together for a movie in the evening. There were days I walked to the Eden Gardens. I still go to Kolay market whenever I find time.
Dhoni factor
Ever since my transition from U19 to U22 days, I had this ambition at the back of my mind to represent my country. It was my dream to be in the team even if I get an opportunity to play or not. I always wanted to contribute for the team even if I am not playing. Yes, you can say my debut for India was delayed a bit but have to accept it when you have someone like Mahi bhai(MS Dhoni). He was already a legend. Getting an opportunity in the Indian team was a bigger motivation for me. Had I not get picked for the national team then I would have to play local club cricket. I was excited due to the fact that I will get to use the better facilities and develop my skills.
India debut
I remember we were involved in a warm up session before the match. We have to touch the guy who had a tennis ball in his hand. I had the ball in my hand and Rohit while trying to touch me twisted his ankle and was in anguish. He limped out of the ground. I was giving practice to Badrinath as it was his debut match as well. Gary Kirsten told me on reaching Nagpur that Dhoni will the first choice keeper so I have to train myself with the net bowlers and do my own keeping practice for the three days leading up to the test match. I had to face the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel after practicing against net bowlers for three days. The 36 runs I scored in the second innings is still etched in my memories.
Regrets
It is our human nature that we cannot be satisfied with what we achieve. For me personally I have scored only three test centuries and five fifties so far in my test career. I would have been a lot happier to get a few more hundreds and fifties under my belt.
Fascination for car racing
During our visit to Singapore we went to the Marina Bay to watch where the FI races take place. It is my dream to watch a FI race live and I am sure it will happen pretty soon. I have always enjoyed watching FI races even if I had to wake up till late night. I started playing cricket in 1997. But I watched my first FI race in 1996 and I tell everyone that racing was my first passion.
Toughest bowler to keep
I think Rashid Khan has been the toughest bowler to keep wickets. He bowls his leg and goolies with the same action and that makes it even more difficult to judge. I also enjoyed keeping to Ashwin and Jadeja.
Getting Renshaw out
We were playing at the Chinnaswamy against Australia in 2017. They already had a lead in the series having won the first test match in Pune. Matt Renshaw was stepping out at the third or the fourth ball of every over bowled by Jadeja. I was noticing it for a couple of overs after which I went and told him about it. I told him to bowl a faster one down the leg side. He did that and Renshaw missed it and was stumped. It gave me a lot of satisfaction.
Shoulder injury
When I went to Mumbai, the doctor suggested me not to go ahead with the operation if you feel it will be your last series for India. He might have felt it that way as it gets very difficult for anyone to make a comeback after having such a surgery. I was always confident to make a comeback after getting operated. A lot many people suspected my career will be over after I suffered the shoulder injury.
Simplicity
It comes natural to me as I grew up watching my parents. I come across as a boring individual. I think I have not changed too much after achieving so much as a cricketer now. I have seen a few friends who have changed their lifestyle from 17 to 20 but I have always tried to be the same person which I was. I feel a lot satisfied to see us staying in our luxurious South City apartment. We may stay in South City but have not brought a BMW car yet which we can easily afford.
Rapid Fire:
Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni – MS Dhoni
SG or Kookaburra ball – SG
Anil Kumble or Ravi Shastri – Anil Kumble
Ashwin, Jadeja or Kuldeep, Jadeja – Ashwin, Jadeja
Romi as a girlfriend or wife – as a wife
Bengali or Gujarati dishes – Gujarati
Anushka Sharma or Katrina Kaif – No one
Playing a cricketer or captain for Bengal – as a team man