'My main focus will be on domestic cricket and IPL' - Wriddhiman Saha after India snub

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha had said that he is not planning to retire anytime soon after his axing from the Indian Test squad. However, with his place in the national team in doubt going forward, the Bengal cricketer seems to have come up with a backup plan.

Saha has made it clear that since he might no longer be in the scheme of things in India’s red-ball setup, all he aims  is to continue playing domestic cricket and the IPL. Saha was an integral part of the Gujarat Titans who lifted their maiden title in IPL 2022. He played some sensational knocks opening the innings with youngster Shubman Gill.

I just want to spend some quality time with my family: Wriddhiman Saha

“Since it has been officially made clear by the Indian team management that I won’t get picked, my main focus will be on domestic cricket – if and when I play – and then of course IPL,” Saha was quoted by Hindustan Times.

“No, no. As it is, it is difficult to devote time to the family, so I just want to spend some quality time with them now,” he said while dismissing the possibilities of him playing County cricket.

The Bengal stumper had to wait patiently for his chances at the international level and it was only after the legendary skipper MS Dhoni‘s retirement from the longest format in December 2014 that Saha finally got the opportunity to don the gloves for India.

Nonetheless, after the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar series in Australia, the 37-year-old has been in the squad as a reserve stumper and has only been warming the bench on most of the occasions. Saha was last seen in action during the home Test series against New Zealand in late 2021 where he scored a match-saving unbeaten 61 in the Kanpur Test.

With Rishabh Pant being India’s first-choice all-format keeper and KS Bharat being looked at as the second-choice wicketkeeper, a comeback is highly unlikely for Saha.