'He was at 9 when I was 36, then I was 41 and he scored a century' - Wriddhiman Saha recalls when he opened with MS Dhoni in a club match

Ahead of their game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Gujarat Titans wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has hailed veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said that he has learned several things from the former Indian captain. Saha also told an incident when Dhoni easily outscored him during a club-level tournament in Kolkata.

To note, the defending champions CSK will take on new entrants Gujarat Titans (GT) in a group stage match to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on April 17 (Sunday). Both teams are coming to the contest after winning their previous match.

‘I have learned a lot from him’ – Saha on Dhoni

In a conversation with GT Saha remembered, “Mahindra Singh Dhoni is a well-known name. Once we were playing in a tournament in Kolkata a long time ago as Dhoni was also invited to the tournament. I remember Dhoni had recently made his team India debut and he was considered one of the most dangerous ball hitters going around.”

“We opened the innings together and I remember that I was batting on 36 runs and Dhoni was on nine. He said to me that ‘take a single and give him the strike’, and before I realized it, I was still batting on 41 and he had completed his century. I have learned a lot from him in the past years and we both share the same temperament while playing the game, ” Saha added.

Meanwhile, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade could make way for Saha in the upcoming fixture against CSK. The left-handed batter has failed to perform in the tournament so far and GT management will be thinking of giving a chance to senior batter Saha at the top of the order.

To note, Saha was bagged by the Titans at a cost of INR 1.90 crore during the IPL 2022 mega auction. The right-handed batter has played 133 IPL matches in which he has scored 2110 runs and also has one century under his name.