A couple of days ago, media reports emerged that Wriddhiman Saha has opted out of the upcoming Ranji Trophy for Bengal.
The news report further claimed that the 37-year-old Saha has been told by the Indian team management that he might no longer play Test cricket again.
With Rishabh Pant’s rise in the international arena, Saha hardly gets any opportunity in the playing XI despite being a part of the squad.
Amid the speculations over his retirement, however, Wriddhiman Saha has clarified that he has only taken a break after a long time on the road.
“People take a break to have family time or for other personal reasons, even Virat Kohli took paternity leave. So, why are questions being raised when I decided to take a break from Ranji Trophy?,” he told Sportstar in an exclusive chat.
When asked if he has a word with the selectors about his future, Saha replied: “I have always followed the team protocol and have always made sure that I don’t reveal any dressing room conversations in the public domain. So, even in case of any personal conversations, I have maintained that it should remain personal and not be spoken in public. Even in the past, several friends and scribes would ask me whether I would be selected for the team, and my answer would always be that it depends on the selectors. I have always maintained this - be it for India or Bengal. The squad has not been announced for the Sri Lanka series yet, so how is it fair that I talk about that?”
Since Pant was rested for the home Test series against New Zealand last year, Saha got the opportunity to play the two red-ball games. Although he scored a crucial half-century in the second innings of the Kanpur Test, Saha didn’t feature in the playing XI during the subsequent South Africa tour.
“I think even before the Kanpur Test, a lot of people tried to prove that I was finished. After I underwent the surgery in 2018, I was the second wicketkeeper, so I think since then, a lot of people were indicating that my time is up. Even though nobody said anything openly, there were enough indications that maybe, they are planning something different. But even after playing that knock that in Kanpur, I knew Rishabh Pant will be playing in South Africa because it was clearly announced that I was drafted into the final eleven since Rishabh was on a break. So, it was obvious that he would be the regular wicketkeeper when available. I always knew that,” he remarked.
When asked how does he feel about his retirement speculations, Saha said: “These are personal decisions. Virat stepping down as captain was his personal decision, so similarly my retirement will be my personal decision. Everyone has a start and an end. But I will not retire just because people have been talking about it. If the team doesn't like my performance and if they drop me is something I can accept. But I will not leave if people push me.”
He also confirmed about his availability for other tournaments and the IPL.
“I have informed the CAB president that I won’t be available to play Ranji Trophy only for this time. I have not told him anything regarding not playing any other tournaments.”
(With Sportstar inputs)
