India’s Test specialist wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha is taking help from his father, Prashanta Saha in doing catching practice amid the lockdown situation in the country. It is imperative for all the players to keep themselves fit in the ongoing health crisis so that it makes their job easier when they get back to real action.
There is no doubt that it would be difficult to hit the ground running for all the players and a small catching practice or a workout session in the gym is certainly going to help players in making a comeback. Meanwhile, Saha would like to keep himself at the top of his fitness.
Wriddhiman Saha will look to hit the ground running
“Whatever drills possible in the confines of my apartment, I am doing that. So I do a lot of hand-eye coordination drills which are a must for keepers. At times, I am throwing a softball against the wall and catching to get the feel,” Wriddhiman told PTI during an exclusive interaction. “At times, my father (Prashanta Saha) is helping me inside the flat,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saha believes that the fast bowlers will take more time to make a comeback as compared to the batsmen. The bowlers will slowly find their rhythm and it is not going to be easy for them to get going from the word go.
“Bowlers, pacers, in particular, yes, they would need time proper running, hitting the lengths, getting the pace up there, it takes time. Batsmen won’t take that much time. I can’t say you can put a timeline as such,” the 35-year-old added.
Meanwhile, R Sridhar, India’s fielding coach has predicted that the players will need at least six weeks to get back into Test match mode.
On the other hand, Wriddhiman Saha didn’t get a chance in two Test matches against New Zealand as Rishabh Pant was preferred over him. Indian head coach Ravi Shastri had revealed that as New Zealand pitches don’t offer a lot of spin, Pant was selected ahead of Saha in the final XI.
Saha, who has played 37 Test matches for the Indian team, had kept wickets in the home season against South Africa and Bangladesh as he made a comeback after injury. Saha is gearing up to get back into action and he is trying to keep himself fit.