Wriddhiman Saha is drawing praises for his valiant knock during the fourth day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Kanpur. Wriddhiman Saha was battling a neck issue, but he still batted and went on to score a gritty half-century pushing his team on top in the series opener against the world champions.
Wriddhiman Saha scored an unbeaten 61 and required the attention of the team’s physio. He didn’t keep during New Zealand’s first innings and went back to the dressing room after having kept for just a couple of overs on Sunday.
Wriddhiman Saha Is A Solid Batsman And Has Got A Bit Of Dogfight In Him, Fought His Way Through A Stiff Neck: Dinesh Karthik
Fellow wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is impressed with how Wriddhiman Saha performed under pressure considering the rich plaudits his injury stand-in KS Bharat was drawing for his skills behind the stumps.
“What I like about him is that he was again having his back against the wall in this Test. This could have easily been one of his last Test innings because there would have been a lot of pressure to bring Srikar Bharat for the next Test,” Karthik said.
Dinesh Karthik said Wriddhiman Saha comes through when conditions are really rough.
“I called him a street fighter, I hope that’s not too derogatory to him, on the commentary today. To me, he’s that sort of guy when the conditions are really, really tough he’s the fighter, the bloke who comes in and does the job when they are down and need him,” he said.
Wriddhiman Saha, on Day 4, batted extremely well to help India set a competitive target for New Zealand. Despite reeling in pain and going through bouts of on-field treatment from the team physio, the Bengal stumper scored a gritty 61 off 126 balls.
Wriddhiman Saha Put Together A 64 Run Stand With Shreyas Iyer And Unbeaten 67 Run Stand With Axar Patel
He put together a 64-run stand with Shreyas Iyer for the sixth wicket to rescue India from 103/6. Wriddhiman Saha, on Day 4, batted extremely well to help India set a competitive target for New Zealand. He put together a 64-run stand with Shreyas Iyer for the sixth wicket to rescue India from 103/6.
Once Shreyas Iyer was dismissed at the stroke of Tea, Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel put 67 for the 7th wicket before stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane declared India’s innings at 234/7, setting the Black Caps a stiff target of 284.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh-born KS Bharat was immensely impressive in the first innings. He affected three key dismissals and played a massive role in helping India come back in the first innings.
Substitute KS Bharat will don the wicket-keeping gloves for the Indian side on Day 5 of the 1st Test against New Zealand. Regular keeper Wriddhiman Saha is experiencing stiffness in his neck, and as a result, he will not come out to keep.
KS Bharat was forced to keep wickets coming as a substitute after Wriddhiman Saha suffered a sprain on his neck before the start of play. KS Bharat took two splendid catches while also pulling off a spectacular stumping to dismiss Tom Latham in the 1st innings.
Wridhiman Saha was declared fit to bat and has walked into the middle on Day 4 of the Test match. It remains to be seen if he is fit enough to don the gloves in New Zealand’s second innings.
With doubts over Wriddhiman Saha’s batting form and fitness, a Test debut for KS Bharat should not be far away. He is yet to play an international match for India in any format.