Bengal Ranji captain Manoj Tiwari praised Indian wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha after his pair of half-century against New Zealand in the second est match in Kolkata.
Saha scored unbeaten 54 and 58 in the two innings of the second test match for India against New Zealand at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He was later awarded the Man of the Match award, his first ever in international cricket. The Bengal born cricketer became the fourth Indian wicket-keeper to score half-centuries in both innings of a Test match. Former Test captain MS Dhoni was the last cricketer to do so.
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The Bengal captain told he had full confidence on his Bengal teammate, “Having played together for so many years, I always had confidence in him. It was just a matter of time that he played a quality knock.” He also believes that Saha’s performance was even more special because of the venue, “To have brought this at his home ground made this doubly special.”
The 30-year-old also said that the wicket-keeper has expressed his concerns to play in the Ranji Trophy opener for Bengal on October 13. Tiwari also admitted that whether Saha will join the team in Jaipur is still a mystery, “Should the Indore Test (October 8-12) finish early, he will join the team in Jaipur.”
The Bengal team is scheduled to begin their Ranji campaign this season against Uttar Pradesh in Jaipur. However, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has already selected the squad for the first two Ranji matches this season against Uttar Pradesh and Bilaspur.
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Yesterday, the Indian Test captain Virat Kohli had called Saha as the “best” wicket-keeper in India. Kohli also feels that the wicket keeping batsman was brilliant in front of his home crowd. "Saha is wonderful behind the stumps and can bat. He backs himself to play his shots," said Kohli at the post-match presentation.
Kohli had also contributed 45 runs in the second innings of the Test against New Zealand after the collapse of Indian top order. The Indian captain also feels that Saha is one of the most important members of the Indian Cricket team in the recent times, “These two guys (Jadeja and Saha) are batting at positions that are very important in Test cricket.”
Following the win against the Kiwis, India laddered up to the no.1 rank in Test Cricket, replacing Pakistan at the top.
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