The 5 best moments of Wriddhiman Saha's Test career 

#2 The home ground and a Man of the Match award to show for it

Saha plays a shot at Eden Gardens

Driven by the yearning to establish himself on the biggest platform in cricket, each athlete and player spends hours and years honing and perfecting his skills in the place of his origin, with the firm belief that one day he would return to the very place and pay a tribute in his own way.

The place gives him his identity. It moulds his confidence and even though he may set afoot on many more hallowed turfs, the ground at which he has spent his childhood will forever remain special.

As Wriddhiman Saha stepped up to play the 17th match of his Test career, emotions ran forth with a sense of nostalgia enveloping him, as he walked out to bat for the very first time as an India player at Eden Gardens. Whilst many international players dream of playing a Test match at this highly historical ground, for Saha, the stakes were even higher. The lush grass had seen his struggle. It had also witnessed his dejection and agony at being ignored constantly, as MS Dhoni ruled the roost.

The 2nd Test against New Zealand in Kolkata gave Saha the ideal opportunity to thank the city, the fans and the stadium itself.

Walking in with India at 200/5, the Indian team was in dire need of a batsman who would stay on till the end, and establish a score that would prove enough for their bowlers. Cheered on by a boisterous crowd, Saha took up the initiative to guide India through.

Even though he patiently knocked and defended the seaming deliveries of Trent Boult and Matt Henry, the batsmen around him seemed to have no answer, falling like nine pins to their threatening pace on a wicket that was aiding the fast bowlers. At 281/9, Saha came together with Mohammad Shami to put on a crucial 35-run partnership in just 31 balls before the latter fell to Boult.

Saha’s unbeaten 54 was the primary reason why India could even cross the 300-run mark which was enough to put psychological pressure on the Kiwis.

He was, however, not done just yet. After the bowlers shot out the New Zealanders for 204, it was imperative that India extend their 112-run lead to an unattainable one. Once again, the Indians had a rocky start and were down the barrel with 91/5 on the board.

Saha's 103-run seventh partnership with Rohit Sharma steadied the fluttering hearts in the dressing room. As Saha notched up yet another unbeaten half century that would later win him the Man of the Match award, the 32-year old had emphatically stamped himself as a reliable number seven batter, making the locals gush from ear to ear.