Providing an update on Wriddhiman Saha’s neck, India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on Wednesday (December 1) said the team management would take a call on wicketkeeper’s availability closer to the second Test, slated to get underway on December 3 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“The physios are in touch constantly with the head coach Rahul (Dravid) and obviously Virat (Kohli) now and as we get closer to the game, we will take a call and see what condition he is in,” Mhambrey said at the virtual press conference.
Struggling with stiff neck, Saha didn’t take the field on Day 3 and Day 5 of the Kanpur Test and KS Bharat donned the gloves as a substitute.
Despite the neck problem, Saha had scored 61 not out in India’s second innings when the hosts were reeling at 51/5.
Mhambrey heaped praise on Saha for his gusty effort with the bat in the opening Test.
“But obviously with whatever he (Saha) has been through, I think (it was a) fabulous effort in the last Test match to bat in that. It was painful, we realise that but he put his hand up and (said) the team wanted it and he delivered it for the team, really happy to see that,” he said.
As a substitute wicketkeeper, KS Bharat impressed one and all with his performance behind the stumps in New Zealand’s first innings.
Bharat was involved in three dismissals that included the stumping of New Zealand's top-scorer Tom Latham (95) off Akshar Patel's bowling. He also grabbed the catches of Will Young (89) and Ross Taylor off the bowling of R Ashwin and Patel, respectively.
(With PTI inputs)
