India's Test match wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha gave a positive assessment of KL Rahul's performances with the gloves in ODIs and T20Is earlier this year and backed the right-hand batsman to continue in his dual role. 

The Indian team had got Rahul to open in T20Is and bat at No.5 in ODIs while also donning the gloves against Australia at home and then on the tour of New Zealand. Rishabh Pant, a mighty fine talent, had to sit out on the bench, while Sanju Samson also awaits his opportunities among the reserves.

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"He (Rahul) is not doing a bad job. He is doing well with the bat and behind the stumps. He is adjusting well, we have seen it in New Zealand," Saha told IANS. 

"He is such a good batsman too and he has worked hard on his keeping. This only augurs well for the Indian team," he added. 

Extra focus will be on India's next crop of limited-overs wicketkeepers now that the great MS Dhoni has hung up his boots from the international game. Speaking of which, Saha said while it did come as a surprise when he bid farewell on the Independence Day, such a call was perhaps imminent considering Dhoni hadn't played any cricket for a year at the age of 39. 

"He (Dhoni) is a legend on and off the field. He has never really taken a predictable decision. I have always seen him to be positive and there was never a negative bone in his body," said Saha, who remained a back-up Test gloveman to Dhoni for the better part of his early Test career before replacing him when he retired from the format in December 2014. 

"It was a bit surprising. But Dhoni and (Suresh) Raina (who also joined him in bidding adieu) were not in touch as far as international cricket is concerned. So it was not out of the blue. People were guessing, now it has become clear."

"I have learnt a lot from him (Dhoni). We also had conversations on wicket-keeping and the game in general," he added. 

Saha is UAE-bound for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting September 19. He will be leaving Mumbai on Wednesday (August 19) to join his Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) teammates. The team is expected to fly to the Middle East four days after that. 

The 35-year-old said he hasn't been able to do net practice amid the COVID-19 hiatus. 

"No, I haven't. I will look to get some when I reach the UAE as we will be having time. Here I could not take a risk as I have two kids at home and it is not safe."

"Also, there are not many places in Kolkata at the moment where I can go. There is a spike in COVID-19 cases too and we have lockdown days too," he signed off.