“If you get a game once in two years, it won’t work” – Wriddhiman Saha on why it’s crucial to play regularly

Wriddhiman Saha played his first Test for India in 2010 against South Africa only because Rohit Sharma got injured. For his next Test, Saha had to wait another two years. And it wasn’t until the great MS Dhoni retired that the earnest Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman got a regular place in the XI. 

Wriddhiman Saha remembers the angst of that phase vividly, as he kept performing for Bengal while knowing he won’t immediately be getting the nod to represent the country. Saha worked extremely hard to keep himself relevant during that time and waited and waited for that elusive opportunity.

“All the games I played that time were only when Mahi bhai got injured. He was once suspended in 2012, that is how I got to play my second Test. I used to get chances only as a cover for someone injured or missing out,” Wriddhiman Saha told CricTracker in an interview. 

“It is crucial to play regularly, because only then can one show their potential and make an impact. I tried my best in whatever chances I was given, but not getting regular games made it hard for me. Any player who gets back-to-back games will always be high on confidence.”

“I played regularly for India after 2014. That was once after Mahi bhai retired. I continuously played until 2018, got half-centuries and centuries, and scored well. It is simple, if you get a game once in two years, it won’t work. But that is all for the team management to decide,” Saha added, emphasizing why it’s crucial to play frequently. 

Also Read: The Different Layers Of Rishabh Pant

Wriddhiman Saha has lost his place in the Indian Test side to Rishabh Pant.

“If you get a game once in two years, it won’t work” – Wriddhiman Saha on why it’s crucial to play regularly

As he mentioned, Wriddhiman Saha solidified his position with outstanding gloveman and timely contributions in a three-year period that started with Dhoni’s Test retirement in December 2014 and lasted till the end of December 2017. However, just when he looked like cementing his status as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman, Saha picked up a string of injuries and gave Rishabh Pant the window of opportunity he was seeking. 

“The longest I was out after picking an injury was the one of my shoulder in 2018. I faced some hamstring niggles too, but that only takes 2-3 weeks [to heel]. But the shoulder injury took a long time. It was before the England series. That is when DK [Dinesh Karthik] and Rishabh [Pant] came in.”

“Rishabh played well after that, got a century in England (The Oval) and then against Australia (Sydney) and he helped the team in overseas conditions. From there on, I had to wait to get inside. But that’s the nature of any sport: you play when you perform. Injuries are a part of the journey and comebacks are always difficult.”

With terrific performances in England and Australia, Pant emerged as a genuine candidate to be India’s first-choice keeper-batsman. And though he did lose his way due to issues around form and fitness for a while, Pant eventually bounced back strongly on his return Down Under and proved pivotal to India’s quest of reaching the World Test Championship final. 

Pant’s scintillating performances in tough circumstances versus Australia and England last season closed out the door on Wriddhiman Saha, who is now facing an uncertain period in his career as he doesn’t know when next he will get to play. But it is something, Saha says, “I have come to terms with”. 

“[In] the initial part of my career, I was always the second-choice keeper [after MS Dhoni]. Injuries are unavoidable and when one player goes out, it is a chance for someone else,” he added. 

“Rishabh has been delivering extremely well for the team, but I had my time. The four years from 2014 to 2018, I was the first-choice keeper. Now, it is Rishabh. Whatever the management decides, I know it will be for the benefit of the team.”

Always willing to aid his improvement in the nets through conversations and drills, Wriddhiman Saha had recently backed Pant ahead of India’s marquee tour of the UK, saying the youngster has earned the right to be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman since his own last outing and twin failures in the Adelaide D/N pink-ball Test. 

“The more he plays, the better he will become. Playing continuously has helped him in getting that confidence and momentum. In his initial days, he used to make mistakes, but he has worked hard and has improved immensely. He is only going to get better with time,” Saha said.