Viru bhai helped me to get back to form: Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha, the Kings XI Punjab wicket-keeper batsman, got back to form in the 36th match of IPL 9 against the Delhi Daredevils. Saha scored 52 runs off 33 balls at an exciting strike-rate of over 155. He later credited Kings XI team mentor Virender Sehwag for his success. Saha hadn’t been at his best for some time now, and this was his first fifty-plus score after 19 innings.

In an interaction with PTI he said, “Viru bhai’s (Virender Sehwag) role as a mentor of Kings XI Punjab has really helped me personally as I have learnt a lot about batting in various conditions. It’s not any specific tips but when you interact with a legend on a day to day basis, you pick up a lot. It did help me as I have again found some form going my way,”

Sehwag really understands his game and asked him to rotate the strike more, which is crucial in all formats of the game.

“Viru bhai tells me that my game is such that rotating the strike should always be an integral part of my batting. As far as my batting form is concerned, yes there has been a phase where I batted in different positions. Also there were times when my shot selection was not wrong but execution went awry,” Saha added.

Saha was also keen on appreciating Murali Vijay as the captain. Vijay has been spot-on as far as making the right bowling changes and setting the fields is concerned. When the tournament started, David Miller of South Africa was the skipper and Vijay replaced him in the midst of the tournament due to Miller and the team’s poor run of form.

“I would also like to say that Vijay has been leading the side very well. As a keeper, I love the kind of field placements that he has been deploying as well as the bowling changes that he has effected.”

Saha also praised his teammates Mohit Sharma and Sandeep Sharma for their bowling performance against DD. “They have been fantastic and was one of the best spells at the death that I have witnessed in the IPL. And both Mohit and Sandeep has been phenomenal for us in the death overs.” He said.

KXIP is at the bottom of the points table at the moment and will have to win all the following games to have the slightest chance of playoffs qualification. They have registered just three wins from the first 10 games.

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