Veteran India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has endured tough times lately. He lost his Test spot to the dynamic Rishabh Pant at the beginning of 2021 before being completely sidelined from the national team earlier this year.
The 37-year-old also went unsold on day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega-auction. Just when it seemed all lost for Saha, he was roped in by Gujarat Titans for INR 1.90 crore on the second day of the auction.
However, the Bengal lad wasn’t the first-choice wicketkeeper for GT in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 season.
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Australia's Matthew played the first few matches but he failed to make a mark and it was then GT skipper Hardik Pandya approached Saha, asking him to open the batting alongside Shubman Gill.
After missing out on the first five league matches, Saha grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring 317 runs for the Titans in 11 matches that included three half-centuries.
After GT clinched the IPL title in their maiden season, Saha credited Hardik Pandya for his change in fortunes and helping him regain his confidence.
"Hardik showed faith in all those players who were released by the different franchises, whom nobody believed in. I was unsold (on day 1 of mega auction), and was not getting chances in the beginning. Then he came and said I need to take the responsibility of an opener. I got my confidence back. He provided me with a stage to prove myself. Can never forget his contribution. I tried my best to repay his faith. In fact, everybody in the team fulfilled their duties, that's what you need to become a champion side," Saha told Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika.
He reserved special praise for Hardik’s leadership in the triumphant IPL campaign.
"Hardik knows how to manage a side. A captain's job is to stay connected with everyone, and understand their game, Hardik had no dearth of that. He has gone through a sea change. He used to be restless earlier but has changed completely now. He never lost his cool on the field, always showed faith in everyone," Saha added.
The wicketkeeper-batter said his role was to provide good starts to the side in IPL.
"A captain will always be happy when the openers perform. The biggest thing was, that he believed in me. Hardik used to say if we don't get off to good starts in multiple matches then it will put the dugout under a lot of pressure. So, my job was to get the team off to a good start," he stated.
