Veteran wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha has reportedly played his last Test match after being told that he will not be considered for the Sri Lanka series. Speaking on the same, former cricketer Syed Kirmani has lashed out at the management saying that the veteran cricketer is a victim of politics.
Saha rose into prominence after MS Dhoni hung his boots in the red-ball format in 2014. Since then, Wriddhiman Saha has been India’s first-choice wicket-keeper in Tests before Rishabh Pant’s emergence.
Hailing the Bengal wicket-keeper, Syed Kirmani said that Saha is still the best wicketkeeper even at the age of 37.
“No doubt, Wriddhi is still the best wicketkeeper. But Rishabh Pant is getting chances for his aggressive batting. Even at 37, Wriddhi is still the best wicketkeeper. He should not get upset. Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel were also replaced in the same fashion,” said the 1983 World Cup winner while speaking to mid-day.
“You did a splendid job for India and never bowed down in these years, which is commendable. You are dropped because you did not belong to any particular group, you are a victim of politics. I will remember you as a very fine wicketkeeper”, he added.
Wriddhiman Saha has affected 92 catches and 12 stumpings in 40 Test matches. The right-handed batsman has scored 1353 runs at an average of 29.41, including three centuries and six fifties. The talented wicket-keeper also represented India in nine ODIs.
The veteran has also opted out of Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign. However, he will appear for the IPL 2022 mega auction scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. He was last part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2021.
