Saha’s Test comeback: Twitter has spoken clearly against the injured Indian wicket-keeper’s comeback into the Test squad.
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With India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant becoming the second highest run-scorer in the ongoing test series between Australia and India, a majority of Indian fans feel that Pant’s consistent run has all but ruled out the comeback of injured wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha.
After the retirement of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Saha emerged as the No. 1 wicket-keeper in the country in Test matches. From January 2015 to January 2018, Saha played 29 Tests for India, scoring 1,164 runs at an average of 30.63 and a strike rate of 44.59.
More importantly, Saha performed the wicket-keeping duties with utmost precision. His glove work against the spinners on sub-continent wickets was usually lauded. Saha succumbed to a couple of injuries last year which saw him being ruled out of the team for a considerable time.
When Saha’s replacement Dinesh Karthik failed to make an impact in the first two Test matches against England last year, 20-year old Rishabh Pant was handed a Test debut. Standing tall on his reputation, the southpaw smashed his maiden century at The Oval.
Having scored his second century in the ongoing match at Sydney, Pant became the only visiting wicket-keeper (other then Jeff Dujon) to score a Test century each in England and Australia.
The fact that Pant has scored more runs than India captain Virat Kohli in the ongoing series speaks highly about the influence which he has had. In seven innings, Pant has scored 350 runs at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 73.99.
Other than the Indian fans thinking about it being a daunting task for the 34-year old Saha to replace Pant in the Test side, India Coach Ravi Shastri had also laid emphasis on ‘current form‘ for the role after the home series against West Indies last year.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions against Saha below:
Got to feel for Wridhiman Saha. 😔
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 4, 2019
But why? He didn’t perform well with the bat at all. Now we again got a keeper who Surely can bat well and that’s what was needed after Dhoni’s retirement. Clearly Rishab is the man. #AUSvIND
— Sachin Yadav (@SachinYrko) January 4, 2019
Plus he can bat fast and can fit in all the formats.
— सुदर्शन ಸುದರ್ಶನ Sudarshan 🇮🇳 (@SudiJahagirdar) January 4, 2019
We are happy for @RishabPant777 period. Saha doesn’t enter picture. He will get his chance.
— spiritliveson (@nathcpa) January 4, 2019
Yes. My regards to saha. But Rishabh pant is more productive. He can play all three formats.
— santosh ramesh kore (@kore_santosh) January 4, 2019
His career is over as Pant has also improved a lot as keeper !!
— puneet shukla (@PuneetShukla783) January 4, 2019
End of Saha career
— Nihal_Kohli@18 (@KohliNihal) January 4, 2019
He is 34 anyway, Pant is for future not Saha and his batting is so haha
— Mitul (@Eme2ul) January 4, 2019
32 matches average of 30….What are you talking about?
— Yasho (@yasho_jhamvar) January 4, 2019
Pant is clearly a much much better batsman
— Abhinav Singla (@Abhinav1098) January 4, 2019
He is a classic WK but in this era you need an all rounder as a WK not just fluent keeping!
— Ketul Vaghela (@ketul_vaghela) January 4, 2019
Pant is far more better batsman than SAHA
— Vinay Chaturvedi (@VINAYC9826) January 4, 2019