Saha confirms participation in IPL 2019: The injured wicket-keeper batsman has given the impression of regaining fitness now.
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India wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha has expressed hopes of making a comeback into competitive cricket with India A’s series against England Lions next month. While the same is subjected to him passing fitness Tests, the 34-year old cricketer sounded determined in his words to do the same.
Saha became victim of a couple of injuries last year which have kept him away from the game for eight months now. An injured thumb followed by an injured shoulder during the last season of the Indian Premier League didn’t help his case at all.
Having last played during the IPL, Saha has confirmed his participation for the imminent season but hopes to play other formats before the cash-rich league. In a recent interview with Sportstar, Saha hinted at either playing for India A or making a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019.
“We talk about him in the commentary box and he is sort of like another Adam Gilchrist.”
Rishabh Pant had a brilliant 2018. Have a read of what some greats of the game are saying about him and a look at the records he’s already broken👇https://t.co/BH07TyR6iY pic.twitter.com/ZSs5YFq5eI
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019
Keeping calm and carrying on: The cricketing journey of Rishabh Pant | Sports News, The Indian Express. Must read story on India’s new cricket-star- Rishab Pant. Brings tears to eyes. Elated Motibagh Gurudwara provided him & mother shelter in Delhi. https://t.co/dsBekFYBZG
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) January 27, 2019
“It will be great if I could be fit to play in the India A day-games against England Lions [starting February 7]. If the fitness is up to the mark, then only I will be available. I am almost there. I will definitely be fit for IPL but my immediate target is to be fit for the India A games.
“I can only play when there is not even one per cent doubt. The physio will be able to tell better. If I am fit, I will be going there only. I am also looking at the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 for Bengal,” Saha was quoted as saying by Sportstar.
Saha admitted the fact that him being a wicket-keeper has delayed his recovery but was also quick to speak that there is no point in hurrying in this phase.
This is the reason why someone like Rishabh Pant needed in Playing 11 who can be a floater in the situation like this. Tonk sixes at will.#NZvIND #INDvNZ
— Manish 🇮🇳 (@IManish311) January 26, 2019
Before he became a household name, India’s latest star lived with the ‘outsider’ tag.
Sriram Veera writes about @RishabPant777 :https://t.co/Z26TlTkEq3
— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) January 27, 2019
“If I wasn’t a wicket-keeper, I would have probably been fit 45 days ago. I think that’s a difference between a batsman and a keeper. You always need to be ready for those dives when needed. If you aren’t match ready, you will be found out and later on, that isn’t a good feeling for a player,” Saha added.
In Saha’s absence, wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has all but confirmed his Test spot by scoring a century each in England and Australia. Having grabbed 20 catches during the Test series in Australia, Pant also surpassed Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the list of most catches by an Indian wicket-keeper in a series.
His heroics saw him winning ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award a few days ago. In the recent past, India Coach Ravi Shastri has also laid emphasis on ‘current form’ for the wicket-keeper’s role. With Indian fans also speaking against Saha’s international comeback, whether he will be able to make it into the Test side will be interesting to watch.
