Sledging doesn’t come naturally to me: Wriddhiman Saha

The Test wicketkeeper of India, Wriddhiman Saha has cleared that he is not a big fan of sledging the opposition players on the field. He is currently preparing hard for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The first Test is all set to commence on November 16 in his home ground at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. However, he believes that sledging doesn’t come naturally to him and he has never done that on the field.

The Bengal cricketer has been a regular member of the side since MS Dhoni called it quits from the longest format of the game. He is exceptional behind the wickets and has played a lot of important knocks lower down the order which has bailed the team out of trouble. So far he has played 28 Tests for India in which he has amassed 1112 runs at a decent average of 32.70. He has also smashed 3 hundreds and five half-centuries which proves he is the vital member of the side. The wicketkeeper has also affected 66 dismissals behind the stumps and would look to add more in the upcoming series.

I try to do my work quietly

Wriddhiman Saha, in an interview to Wisden India, also credited MS Dhoni as he guided him during his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “Actually, when I have been with Mahi bhai, I have seen that he also doesn’t sledge. He talks, as the captain he spoke to the players – the bowlers and the fielders – but he didn’t sledge. I don’t think I have ever seen him talk to individual batsmen. I guess that’s how I am too; I try to do my work quietly,” he said.

He also said that sledging works in favour of some batsmen like it does for the Indian skipper Virat Kohli and he doesn’t want to take a risk of motivating any opposition player. “Also, some batsmen thrive on it; they get motivated when people sledge them. As for me, I don’t think I have ever sledged, anywhere. It doesn’t come naturally to me,” he added. The 33-year-old also praised Dhoni and admitted that he would have contributed to the team immensely had he been playing in whites currently.

“It’s true that if Mahi bhai was still playing Test cricket, the amount he contributed … As a captain, he has won us so many trophies, and as a player, whatever we say is too little. Maybe I didn’t get a chance because he was around, maybe I got a chance once in way … but that was fair. Now, my aim is to play for as long as possible. There are others in the line, and they are doing their best, exactly as I am. I am trying to play for as long as possible, and that’s the challenge,” Saha concluded.