Celebrating the Resilience of Wriddhiman Saha: India’s Veteran Wicketkeeper at 39
On October 24, Wriddhiman Saha, often regarded as one of India’s finest wicketkeepers known for his exceptional glove work, marked his 39th birthday. Even at this mature age, Saha continues to impact the cricket field significantly, contributing crucial runs while donning the Gujarat Titans jersey in the IPL and leading Tripura in domestic cricket.
Saha’s career coincided with the era of legendary Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, and much like Dinesh Karthik, he faced fierce competition. However, Saha established himself as a reliable presence in the Test format for India from 2015 to 2017 before the emergence of Rishabh Pant.
3 Wriddhiman Saha 104 vs West Indies
One of Wriddhiman Saha’s standout moments was his maiden Test century against the West Indies in St. Lucia in 2016. His entry at 126/5 in a challenging situation displayed his mettle. The Siliguri-born cricketer played a composed innings, guiding the team to a total beyond 350. Saha’s 104 came from 227 deliveries, featuring 13 well-timed boundaries. With Ravichandran Ashwin’s all-around performance stealing the limelight, Saha narrowly missed the Man of the Match award. India convincingly won the game, as the West Indies managed just 333 runs across both innings.
2 W.Saha 106* vs Bangladesh
Saha’s second Test century came against Bangladesh in 2017 during their tour of India, and the match was played in Hyderabad, a venue known for favoring his style of play. The game turned into a high-scoring affair, with 1484 runs across four innings. Saha’s unbeaten century featured seven boundaries and a couple of sixes. His innings helped India declare at 687/6, and the team, led by Virat Kohli, secured a comfortable victory.
1 W.Saha 117 vs Australia
Saha’s most memorable performance in the Indian colors came against Australia in 2017 in a Test match at Ranchi. The visitors posted a formidable 451 thanks to Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell’s centuries. In response, the Indian team amassed an imposing 603 before declaring their innings. Cheteshwar Pujara led the charge with a remarkable double century, while Saha’s 117 off 233 balls played a crucial role in establishing a substantial lead of about 150 runs. His partnership of 199 runs with Pujara was a daunting challenge for the Australian bowlers. Although Australia scored 204/6 in their second innings, the match concluded as a hard-fought draw.
Dhoni and Pant may have overshadowed Wriddhiman Saha’s career, but his remarkable innings and consistent performances undoubtedly left an indelible mark in Indian cricket history.