India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha on Saturday, uploaded the screenshot of a chat with an unnamed journalist who appeared irritated by the cricketer’s refusal to respond to his requests for an interview. In the text messages, the journalist can be seen threatening Saha and warning him that he will no longer take his interviews.
“After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone.”, Saha wrote on Twitter. Saha’s tweet came after he was dropped from the Indian team for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone. pic.twitter.com/woVyq1sOZX
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) February 19, 2022
Many notable figures from the Indian cricket fraternity have reacted to the situation and have asked Saha to provide more details so that some action can be taken against the person in question. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh asked Saha to reveal the name of the journalist who sent him those threatening messages. Former India opener Virender Sehwag also supported Saha and lambasted the so-called “respected journalist” in question. Former India pacer RP Singh also tweeted in support of Saha.
Here’s how Indian cricket community reacted to Wriddhiman Saha’s shocking revelation:
Wridhi you just name the person so that the cricket community knows who operates like this. Else even the good ones will be put under suspicion.. What kind of journalism is this ? @BCCI @Wriddhipops @JayShah @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS players should be protected https://t.co/sIkqtIHsvt
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 20, 2022
Extremely sad. Such sense of entitlement, neither is he respected nor a journalist, just chamchagiri.
With you Wriddhi. https://t.co/A4z47oFtlD— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 20, 2022
Name him, buddy. Sorry state of affairs…cricket community wouldn’t bat an eyelid before boycotting this ‘so called’ journalist for good. https://t.co/h72gw6l35f
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 20, 2022
When it is about BCCI or cricketers, we hear so many ‘sources’ from all the journalists. Can a single source tell me who this so called journalist is who has threatened Saha? #cricketwitter https://t.co/C9PRjcaNES
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) February 20, 2022
Of the many things problematic in what's unfolding regarding to Wriddhiman Saha, the worst is someone "threatening" him on the day he's just been officially dropped just for not giving an interview. Empathy died a thousand deaths.
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 19, 2022
Wriddhiman Saha has in his own way exposed the dark side which a player has to deal with outside of the BCCI.
— Ratnakar Shetty (@RatnakarShetty6) February 20, 2022
Journalists also need to respect the players. Sometimes in a low mindset players don’t feel like doing interviews. Need to give them space and time.
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) February 20, 2022
It's imp @Wriddhipops names the Journalist. This is good for the cricket in the nation and best for the journalism in the country. This said journalist in this message looks more like a mafia. This man needs to be banned from #BCCI & Journalist fraternity. #WriddhimanSaha #Saha https://t.co/ZRove7A2kv
— Mikkhail Vaswani (@MikkhailVaswani) February 20, 2022
Wriddhiman Saha’s interview and the WhatsApp row are two different subjects… Most are making a cocktail and selling it.
Any cricketer can feel low after getting dropped, but the WA message is a shame for the journalism community.
— Suvajit Mustafi (@RibsGully) February 19, 2022
Yup. In all the madness that surrounds cricket in India, Cricinfo have still been able to hold a standard of their own. In terms of content, they are anyway second to none. In terms of practices, rarely see them get any news wrong or have misleading headlines or masala. https://t.co/7OJvuT8z0J
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) February 19, 2022
In Ganguly era, "some" journalists have got more control than Team India captain.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 20, 2022
Absolutely shocking to see this so-called 'respected Indian journalist' treat Wriddhiman Saha in this manner 😐 #WriddhimanSaha #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/FrTKYMADRt
— CricFit (@CricFit) February 20, 2022
Wriddhiman Saha reveals chief selector’s message
Wriddhiman Saha has revealed that chief selector Chetan Sharma after the South Africa tour had informed him that from now, he would not be considered for the Indian Test Team as preference is being given to younger candidates.
“Chetan Sharma told me that they will not consider me for the Sri Lanka series. I asked him whether it is just for the Sri Lanka series, or is it also beyond that? He took a pause and then said, from now on, you will not be considered.”, Saha said as quoted by Sportstar.