Wriddhiman's priority is wicketkeeping: Saha's father

Wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman’s father Prasanta Saha has revealed that his son, who hit twin half-century in the 2nd Test at Kolkata, has “more liking” towards keeping wickets than batting. Speaking from Siliguri, where the parents reside, he said, “Wicket-keeping is his first choice. He loves to be in stumper’s gloves than batsmen.”

“Though he had been in the Under-13 team as a batsman-wicketkeeper, he loves to keep wickets more.”

Saha scored unbeaten 54 and 58 in the Kolkata Test to put India in a commanding position in the game. His performance saw him grab the man of the match award and also helped him leap 18 places to 56th position in the test rankings for batsmen. His parents were delighted to watch their son take the top honor of the match.

“All our neighbours congratulated us after India’s historic win (250th Test). I can’t express the joy and mood in our area. Wriddhi’s wife Debarati and three-year-old daughter Anvi were here a few days ago. They went to Kolkata and I am sure his wife must be over the moon,” said Saha’s mother Maittreyee.

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Wriddhiman Saha became the 2nd wicketkeeper-batsman after Gerry Alexander to score two fifties (not out) in a Test. His father also states that he had heard the name of West Indian Gerry Alexander, who also scored two not out fifties in the same Test 55 years ago, but was unaware that no other wicketkeeper-batsman has equalled this feat.

The Saha also joined an elite list of Indian wicketkeepers who twin fifties in one Test. Only three before him had scored two fifties in a Test match. MS Dhoni had done it four times while Farok Engineer and Dilawar Hussain had achieved the feat once each.

India skipper Virat Kohli was also full praise of his glove man. “Saha is the best wicketkeeper in the country right now and he’s doing a great job in Test cricket. That hundred in the West Indies really improved his confidence; he now understands how to bat with the tail now.