XtraTime Web Desk: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly will take charge as the new BCCI President from October 23 in Mumbai. Where everyone has congratulated him for getting the post India’s star wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha thinks that all the players will be immensely benefited after Sourav takes up the new role.
“I hope the players will be immensely benefited after Dadi takes up the new role, especially under the circumstances. He has represented the country for a long time and then went to dominate the Indian cricket first as a player then captain. He is aware of our demands. It will be an added plus to the team and individual players. He can bring a lot many improvements as he knows the game inside out. If something is not happening, Dadi can make it happen,” told Wriddhiman on the eve of the third Test in Ranchi.
Leading 2-0, Saha said, it’s time to complete a whitewash against South Africa.
“I have good memory of the last match. I made 117 in the last match. I remember how I approached the innings. I also remember the Steve Smith incident. If you see we drew it last time. We are 2-0 up in the series so this time we will try to make it 3-0 this time,” he concluded.
Wicketkeeping is a “thankless” job contrary to popular perception that anyone wearing a pair of gloves should catch every ball that comes his way, Saha said.
Wriddhiman, who has made a comeback to the Indian team after 20 months, was brilliant behind stumps in the Pune Test against South Africa, where he grabbed a couple of absolute stunners off Umesh Yadav’s bowling.
This was apart from his sensational glovework while keeping up to slow bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
“It’s tough everywhere. Wicketkeeping is a thankless job and people think that he should take all the ball since he’s wearing a pair of gloves. It’s not easy like that, especially on a track with uneven bounce and turn. We prepare according to the wicket,” he said.
Asked about the acrobatic take down the leg-side off Umesh Yadav’s bowling.
“Everyone wants to contribute to the team. He (Yadav) did very well in the first innings and created a lot of chances. Luckily, I was able to take the chances he created on the leg side. I always think of helping to the team’s cause. It always feels good when you contribute to the team’s winning cause.”
Before the South Africa series, Saha last figured in the Cape Town Test way back in January 2018 and got side-lined after a shoulder injury.
“I was out for a long time because of injury. I got a chance only after performing in the domestic and India A matches. I always continued the same preparation for batting and wicketkeeping and finally got and opportunity. I’m really happy to have contributed to the team,” Saha, who made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s earlier this year, said.