Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha's childhood coach, Jayanta Bhowmick, was really disappointed by the team management and the senior selection committee’s decision to drop him for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka at home.
Jayantha further said that there shouldn't be different criteria for selection for different members of the Indian cricket team, questioning the reason behind the veteran wicket-keeper’s dropping.
Notably, India’s senior selection committee, led by Chetan Sharma, picked Rishabh Pant as the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Andhra Pradesh's KS Bharat was named as the second keeper in the 18-man squad for the upcoming home Tests against Sri Lanka.
Saha was reportedly informed that he wouldn't be considered for test selection "anymore" and should consider retirement if he wanted.
Jayanta told India Today, “On what criteria has this decision been taken? This is my question. If you are going to select a player, regardless of any team, the criteria are always fitness and performance. If age is not a criterion, then on what basis has he not been picked? What is the problem? Even in the squad, there are senior cricketers, why Wriddhiman Saha alone will be dropped from the side?”
He continued, “Not just a player, every professional has a particular time to retire. Even Saha has the right time to retire and he knows it very well. He is not someone who talks loose, he is honest and serious about his performance, results, and fitness. He is mentally strong even now. He doesn't want to lose. He knows when to stop.”
On Saha’s fitness, the coach noted; “He is 37, I understand. But if his fitness and performance are alright, he can play for another 2-3 years. Every player, even the great Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara, have retired. But there's a time for it.
It's not like he is trying to extend his career by a year or two. He is an honest person who knows when to stop. He takes his performance seriously. If you look at the Indian team, in the fitness tests, Saha always is in the top 3 - Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and then Wriddhiman Saha.”
Meanwhile, Indian head coach Rahul Dravid said that Saha deserved honesty and clarity and had spoken to him during the South Africa tour, so he is not at all hurt with the cricketer choosing to reveal their conversation after the Test squad was announced for the Sri Lanka series.
Reacting to Dravid’s comments, Jayant said: “He is a gentleman. I’ve heard what he has said. It's alright. But then, even now Indian team has players who are in their late 30s. Everyone knows that Wriddhiman Saha is still the No.1 wicketkeeper in the world. Then, what is the problem? There should not be different criteria for different people when it comes to selection. That's unfair. How can this happen?”
On Saha’s decision to skip the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2022, he signed off by saying, “I spoke to Wriddhiman Saha this morning. He is mentally very strong. His mental strength won't be affected because of all this. He is exceptional. But what hurts me is Saha is someone who loves the sport, contributed so much to his country and sport but he has been left out without a proper criterion.”
(With India Today Inputs)
