Saha on Dhoni: Focused on my performance when Dhoni played for India

Saha on Dhoni: In an interview, Wridhhiman Saha spoke about MS Dhoni and how he prepared when Dhoni was playing in Tests.

It would not be wrong to say that Wridhhiman Saha is walking an unfortunate road at the moment. In moments when the Indian team desperately needs him behind the wickets, Saha is nursing an injury. The seriousness of the injury is such that he is likely to miss the tour of Australia later in the year.

Saha belongs to a generation where representing the national side was an onerous task for wicket-keepers throughout the country due to a sensation called Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Saha made his Test debut at the age of 26 in 2010, but played only a couple of matches until the Australian tour of 2014/15 when he became a permanent member of the Test side. At 30, Saha was given the status which the others receive around half-a-decade ago.

Having impressed one and all with his glove work in the last three years, this was the perfect time for Saha to reap the benefits of his hard work which he has put over the years. However, injuries have had their say this year.

In an interview to Cricbuzz, Saha talked about his preparations as a wicket-keeper when Dhoni was at the helm of Indian cricket. “Who doesn’t want to play for India? When Dhoni was playing for India and we were playing domestic cricket, we focused on our performances, as boring as it may sound.

“It was never like, ‘Okay, Dinesh Karthik has hit a ton today, I have to match up as well, or for Parthiv.’ All of us try equally, we try and be the best we can be for our state sides or IPL teams or clubs, that would catch the attention”, he said.

Saha also spoke about the temperament which helped him to sustain during the difficult phases of his career, like the one he is in at the moment as well.

“It is important in such situations, especially when you have someone as successful and immovable as Dhoni at the top. It is key to not lose your head when selected or get demoralised when dropped. I don’t keep an eye on others’ scores. Of course, there are people who will remind you of these scores, but it depends how you filter it”, he added.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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