Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that Wriddhiman Saha is still Team India’s second choice wicketkeeper after Rishabh Pant and said that despite several other talented youngsters in the fray, Saha should be given more opportunities.
Since the emergence of Rishabh Pant in Test cricket, Wriddhiman Saha has found it difficult to make it into the Indian XI. Wriddhiman Saha is arguably the best gloveman in the world but Pant’s heroics with the bat have overshadowed him.
However, the latter’s stunning glovework behind the stumps in the recently concluded Test series against England, which Indian won 3-1, has made it even more difficult for Saha to star into the Indian XI.
IND v ENG 2021: “I trust in my abilities; not worried about Pant’s batting”, says Wriddhiman Saha
During a discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan said that he would stick with Wriddhiman Saha as the second choice wicketkeeper.
"It is a difficult choice but if I have to choose, I will stick with Wriddhiman Saha. He has been with the team for a long time. He is a very safe keeper and has very good hands. Rishabh Pant has grown in stature, not only as a batsman but as a keeper as well and will keep improving as he keeps on playing." Harbhajan Singh told Starsports.
Harbhajan said that despite several other talented youngsters, Saha, 35, should be given more opportunities ahead of the others.
"I feel for some time Wriddhiman Saha will have to be kept along with the team. I agree he is 35 years old but with the sort of fitness he has, I feel he is still better than most of the youngsters. It is good that we have quite a few options - we have KL Rahul and the bold Ishan Kishan,” he said.
The ‘Turbanator’ pointed out that Pant provides a better balance to the team and added that the captain has to forego playing five bowlers if they include Saha as the keeper.
"If you watch closely, Rishabh Pant provides the balance to the team which allows you to play five bowlers because he is a proper batsman. But when you look towards Wriddhi, the captain is not that confident of playing five bowlers,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh further said that Team India can opt for Ishan Kishan as the second keeper, as he brings to the table similar attributes as those of Pant.
“If the thinking is like that, then I feel Ishan Kishan can be a very good choice because he is a strong batsman and a match-winner. He is also a similar kind of player who plays shots and keeps well also,” he concluded.
Team India will now lock horns against England in the five-match T20I series, starting from 12th March at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
(Star Sports inputs)
