Team India shocked everyone playing young Rishabh Pant ahead of Wriddhiman Saha for the two-match series against New Zealand. The decision received severe criticisms from all quarters and recently former chairman of selectors slammed the team management for playing with the career of Saha, who was labelled as the best in the business by skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri.
Meanwhile, India had brought in Wriddhiman Saha ahead of Pant at the start of the home series against South Africa and Bangladesh. The wicketkeeper from Bengal impressed straightaway in the challenging conditions producing some outstanding skills against the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
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Saha is good with the bat too: Sandeep Patil
Considering his recent form, it was evident that Saha will retain his place in the playing XI but to the surprise of everyone, Pant played both the Test matches. The cricketer from Delhi has largely been unsuccessful managing only 60 runs from the four innings with the highest score of 25 runs during the second innings of Wellington Test.
As the team management continues to attract criticisms for their poor outing, Sandeep Patil has joined the bandwagon for playing with the career of Wriddhiman Saha. He also backed Saha's batting abilities which have been under the scanner for numerous times.
“You are promoting Rishabh Pant, but playing with the career of Wriddhiman Saha,” Sandeep Patil said. “Saha will always be my first choice as wicketkeeper simply because you need experience and he is more experienced. Saha has also always rescued the team so why are you taking away his batting confidence? I know what Saha is capable of. I was in the West Indies when he scored that hundred,” he added.
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Meanwhile, with India having no red-ball cricket in recent times, Wriddhiman Saha will turn up for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Bengal registered an emphatic win over Karnataka to make it to the final after 13 long years. Following that, he will travel south to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming Indian Premier League.