Wriddhiman Saha knows what pressure is like. First, it was about keeping himself relevant to the Indian team as a back-up to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and now, again, it is about not being overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of what Rishabh Pant has to be offer.
The only time Saha got the chance to feature in the XI while Dhoni was still playing Test cricket was his debut in Nagpur, where he actually wasn't supposed to get his India cap until a collision and injury to Rohit Sharma meant he got the nod.
WATCH- Wriddhiman Saha shares his wicket-keeping drills on social media
In between Dhoni's retirement, his shoulder surgery and being replaced by Pant on difficult overseas tours, however, Saha has been absolutely magnificent for India with the gloves, rarely making any mistake and also scoring handy runs with the bat.
"I didn't replace MS Dhoni, I got chance after he left playing Test cricket. The Test in which I debuted, VVS Laxman was not playing because of finger injury. Rohit Sharma was called to replace him (in Nagpur Test match vs South Africa) as he had scored a good hundred in the Board President match," Saha told India Today.
"On the match day during the practice, Rohit collided with me. Both of us got ankle injury but he got it more. MS Dhoni was going for toss and I was giving throw downs to Subramaniam Badrinath, on his way told me 'Saha tu khel rha h (Saha you are playing)'."
"Garry Kirsten (the then coach) had told me MS Dhoni is in the team and so you will not play. He asked me to do my own practice. That's why I played the net bowlers and then directly went on to play Dale Steyn and Mornie Morkel. MS Dhoni had set his standard and I learn from him till date," he added.
Even when he knew there would be no opportunity to play, the 35-year-old maintained a positive attitude and tried to learn as much as he possibly can from Dhoni. "His keeping or batting style, his stumping in fraction of seconds, there are a lot of things to learn. He 2-4 years older to me, I was knowing that if MS Dhoni is playing I will not get to play."
"Nobody likes sitting outside but with MS Dhoni in the team there is no option left," stressed Saha. "So, I learnt the maximum from and performed whenever given chance. I asked him during the Nagpur Test match that who would keep. He said 'obviously I will keep, you are a good fielder, you go and field'."
While his batting abilities has been constantly doubted, which is why he had to sit out during India's last two tours to West Indies, New Zealand despite recovering from a career-threatening shoulder injury, the good thing for Saha is that his strength, the glovework, is well-recognised by skipper Virat Kohli, coach Ravi Shastri, as they played him ahead of Pant during the home season on drier, uneven surfaces.
"During my rehab (last year) at NCA the physio would gave me messages that the team management was asking about my improvements," he recalled. "I am a motivated person since my childhood days. I don't worry much when I don't perform well, I don't go and sit in a corner. I appreciated Rishabh Pant and texted him when he scored a hundred in England."
"I also talked with Rishabh Pant when he came at NCA and he told me about the swing moments in England. It was not as if I was not talking to him and saying that your are playing and I am sitting outside and so I will not talk to you. We are good friends and even play games together on play stations," Saha added, playing down talks of competition with Pant.
(Inputs from India Today)
