Sports Desk, AnyTV, New Delhi
Published by: Rajeev Rai
Updated Sun, 20 Feb 2022 06:44 PM IST
Summary
Veteran Indian wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha has not found a place in the Indian team for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) on Saturday announced the squads for the T20 and Test teams, but Saha was not included in it.
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Saha also revealed after being dropped from the team that coach Rahul Dravid has advised him to take retirement. However, Saha clearly said that as long as he continues to enjoy the game, he will not retire.
Dravid had advised to retire
Saha told Sportstar in an interview that Dravid invited him to his room for talks on the evening of the Cape Town Test on the South Africa tour and advised him to retire. Saha said, “Rahul bhai called me immediately after the test. I thought maybe he wanted to explain why he could not include me in the playing XI and what is the way forward. against New Zealand [कानपुर में] After the Test, Dadi (Sourav Ganguly) congratulated me on my innings and boosted my confidence. So, when Rahul bhai called me, I thought maybe he wanted to talk to me about his plans. But as soon as we started talking, Rahul bhai said I don’t know how to tell you this, but for some time now, some selectors and the team management are thinking of trying a new keeper.”
I asked him if it was because of my age or fitness, but Rahul bhai told me it was not just because of age or performance. He was looking at young talent, and since you are not playing in the XI, we thought of looking at the rest of the talent.
According to the 37-year-old batsman, “Dravid clearly told him that he should not be surprised if the selectors did not pick him for the Sri Lanka series. Rahul bhai told me that if you want to take a decision, you should consider.” I told him that I don’t want to take any call now because I have a lot of cricket left in me and the IPL too…I will play.
Reasons for not playing Ranji Trophy
Apart from Saha, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have also not got a chance in the Test series against Sri Lanka. While Rahane and Pujara were playing in Ranji Trophy aside, Saha has decided to spend time with his family. The Bengal player said, “Just before I left for South Africa, my wife was hospitalized due to dengue. Even though he is better, he is not quite fit. So, after living inside the Bio Bubble for months, I decided to be with the family and spend some time with the kids. It became a matter of great discussion.”