Parthiv Patel, the India and Gujarat veteran wicketkeeper batsman, picked one of Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant as his preferred gloveman for the forthcoming Test series in Australia and beyond in the traditional format.
Pant and the more experienced Saha are competing for the first-choice wicketkeeper's role in Test cricket. When Saha's injury paved way for Pant's debut in 2018 and the youngster backed it up with tons at The Oval and Sydney, it seemed he has cemented his spot.
However, Pant was overlooked when the team returned home to face South Africa and Bangladesh last winter, with Saha preferred for the job.
Only adding to the uncertainty then was Pant's sudden return on the 2-Test tour of New Zealand where Saha's batting abilities were again questioned and he was considered dispensable to the team's cause.
It is believed, the team management has come up with an arrangement where Saha's expertise with the gloves will be used on more trying surfaces in home conditions and Pant's promising batting talent will be used to add to the team's depth abroad.
For Parthiv, though, there is little doubt that Saha is the right man to go with irrespective of the conditions.
“I have always maintained that Saha is your best wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket. There is no comparison with anyone, as long as he is fit,” Parthiv told cricket.com.
"As long as he is there, he should be keeping for India in Test cricket – whether you are playing abroad or India – Saha is your guy as long as he is fit."
In recent times, Pant has lost his place in the limited-overs outfit to KL Rahul, who has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
On being asked whether Rahul can do that even in Test matches, Parthiv feels that will be putting too much pressure on the talented batsman.
"That’s a tough call. KL’s glovework is fantastic, there is no doubt about it. Test cricket is completely different," he said.
“You have got to start ‘keeping in four-day cricket first. It’s not the easiest thing to do. I would give it a long thought before thinking that KL could do the job in all formats. But one-day, T20, definitely KL."
