SA v IND 2018: India has the fire power to unsettle Proteas batting, says Wriddhiman Saha

Saha also credited Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri for his growth as a player.

Wriddhiman Saha | GETTY

India is on a tough tour to South Africa and are expected to continue their domination overseas as well. Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha interacted with the CricketNext website and expressed his views on the series against South Africa, starting on 5th January.

Indians are said to be troubled with pace and bounce overseas, which has affected their performances. However, Saha seems to be unbothered with the talks of a devastating South African pace attackcomprising of Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn. He said they too have bowlers who can produce good pace and bounce on the South African track.

“Bouncers? Movement? Are these as big a factor as you make them to be? Nobody is questioning the South African bowling line-up and we as a team have utmost respect for them. But do you forget that we also have pacers in the team? Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav know how to rattle batsmen with pace and bounce. Then you have Bhuvneshwar Kumar who can get the ball to seam at a good pace. And I think Ishant Sharma has played enough cricket and knows what exactly is expected of him.

“The point is not pace and bounce. The point is if we can pick 20 wickets and win the Test and I think we have the players to do that. When we are done with the pace battery upfront, we have a quality seamer in Hardik Pandya and two supremely experienced spinners in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. This team has the arsenal to win Test matches,” he said.

Saha credited his growth as a player to coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli. He is India's first preference as a wicket-keeper in Test since MS Dhoni quit the white jersey.

“Today, I can say that I know where I stand as a player and my role in this team is very clear. How often do you come across captains and coaches who are as vocal as these two? They have ensured that all of us know what is expected of us and there is no sense of doubt. Kohli often comes and tells me that I should not worry about whether I can score a hundred or a fifty. He says that every time I go out in the middle, I should enjoy myself.

“Shastri too doesn’t mince words and be it me or any other player, he will always give you the truth. He often tells me that I should be confident of myself and half the job is done then and there. Self-doubt is your worst enemy and the duo has ensured that this team is filled with confident people who enjoy each other’s success,” the 33-year-old said.

Saha has the same tone as Shastri. He also believes the upcoming 18 months are key for Indian cricket. India will be touring South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia in the upcoming cricket season. 

“Shastri bhai was absolutely right because we are playing the top teams and that too on foreign soil. If this team can beat the likes of South Africa, England and Australia, you can very well understand that we will not only gain immensely in confidence but also be true world beaters. But then, something that irritates me is this obsession with pulling down India after every series win on home soil by saying that we win on tracks that were tailor-made for the Indian spinners.

“Don’t all teams nowadays prepare wickets that help their own team? Would you get a spinning track ever in South Africa, England, Australia or New Zealand? They are not criticised when they make wickets that help their bowlers. Then why this scrutiny when we win at home? Then again, these things do not bother us as a team because we are here to win and on any given surface. You dish it out and we have the answers,” he signed off.

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 03 Jan, 2018

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