My job is to play to the best of my potential, says Wriddhiman Saha

For some players, injuries can prove to be really disastrous. Indian wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha is one such player. The talented gloveman was ruled out of international cricket midway in the tour of South Africa last year because of injury and after that, he could play in the IPL before getting a long break. After playing his last competitive game in the IPL in May 2018, Saha returned to the 22 yards on Thursday when he appeared for Bengal in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.

In the time that he missed, a lot has changed in Indian cricket. Saha was once seen as a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni in the longer format and he has done a decent job in 32 Tests that he has played; scoring over 1,100 runs and effecting 85 dismissals. However, the rise of Rishabh Pant in the horizon might have sealed Saha’s chances of making a comeback as the Delhi youngster has made a real impact in Test cricket, especially with the bat.

Though Saha has three hundreds in Tests, Pant has already scored two tons abroad, the second of which (159 not out in Sydney) gave the dashing wicket-keeper-batsman a real establishment. Saha, though managed two runs and took one catch in his comeback match, doesn’t see Pant as a competitor and said he is happy to see the latter’s success.

I have always done that

“I don’t see him as my competitor. I have never regarded anyone as a competitor since the time I was a child. It’s not that I have to better him and I am not getting a chance because he is there. My job is to play to the best of my potential and keep performing. I have always done that and kept waiting for my chance,” India Today cited reports as quoting the 34-year-old.

Speaking about Pant, Saha said the former has a lot of potential and did reasonably well since getting a look in. According to Saha, had Pant been below the mark, he would not have got runs in the IPL or even come close to reckoning.

Pant is expected to make his first World Cup squad for the showpiece event in England this year and also got preference over Dinesh Karthik for the upcoming ODI series against Australia starting this March 2.

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