Sourav Ganguly declares Wriddhiman Saha the best Indian wicketkeeper in last 5-10 years

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly believes that Wriddhiman Saha has been India’s best wicketkeeper in the last five-ten years. The 34-year old has been India’s number one wicketkeeper in Test cricket since MS Dhoni bid adieu to the longest format of the game. However, Saha has been out of the team since the South African tour earlier in 2018 owing to a shoulder injury. Rishab Pant, as a result, made his Test debut on India’s tour of England in July and has been the preferred keeper after quite a few options were tried.

Pant, since his debut, also played the Tests against Windies at home and also has been picked up for the upcoming Test series in Australia. Along with Pant, veteran Parthiv Patel has also been roped in as the backup wicketkeeper for the series down under. Saha has played 32 Tests and racked up 1164 runs including three hundreds at a decent average of 30.63. He has not played a game since January 2018, with the 1st Test against South Africa at Cape Town being his last. 

Ganguly hopes Saha recovers and makes it back to the team

Team India isn’t scheduled to play any Tests till July 2019 after the Australian tour. Thus extending Saha’s time out of the team. “He’s been out of the team for about a year now but I think in the last five to ten years, he has been India’s best gloveman. Hope he recovers soon,” Ganguly said as quoted by TOI.

“Injury is not in your hands. Wicket-keeper has to dive and he got injured while diving. It takes a certain time to recover. The faster he recovers, the better it is,” he added.

The Bengal cricketer was included in the Test squad for the first time for the home series against the Proteas in 2010. He played as a specialist batsman in his first Test. In spite of having a first-class average of 44, Saha’s place in the playing XI was very debatable.

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