Wriddhiman Saha reveals the art of batting with tail-enders!
Oct 5, 2016 at 12:16 PM
After the conclusion of the four-match Test series in West Indies, Indian captain Virat Kohli had said that Wriddhiman Saha was one of the biggest positives from the series. The wicketkeeper-batsman has become an important part of the Indian batting lineup with his consistent contributions lower down the order.
He continued his fine display with the bat and played a vital role in helping India defeat New Zealand by 178 runs in the second Test at Eden Gardens to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match Test series. The Bengal player scored two unbeaten half-centuries in the match and fittingly earned the Man of the Match award.
What makes Saha even more important to the team is the fact that he is making runs with the lower tailenders.Talking to bcci.tv about his strategy to bat with the tailenders, he said: “This is not new to me. I have done this right since I played club cricket. When I bat in that position, I only think about giving an equal opportunity to score to the batsman at the other end. I never feel the need to keep the tail-ender safe from the strike. It is about giving them confidence and making them feel even they can score runs. It helps me and the confidence of the batsman at the other end.” .
“If you look at this Test, I had to play foil to Rohit Sharma who was scoring well at that moment. I might have just scored a 30 or 40 in that partnership with him but I do realise that it is invaluable given the situation of the match. The 50s and 100s do not matter; sometimes even 30s and 40s are precious,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman, referring to his vital stand with Rohit.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has been given the responsibility to fill the huge void left by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and so far he has done a commendable job. With India scheduled to play 11 more Tests at home this season, Saha will have to play a big role in helping his team’s cause.