Hyderabad: Wriddhiman Saha couldn’t have asked for more. An unbeaten century that sort of cements his spot in the Test team and keeps competitors at bay was just the knock he may have been looking for. Well, everything worked for him on Friday, especially the missed stumping when he was on 4.
“I was destined to get a hundred and that’s why he (Bangladesh ‘keeper Mushfiqur Rahim) couldn’t effect that stumping maybe,” he said after the day’s play. “He tried but couldn’t hit the stumps. When he got it right the second time, I was inside the crease.”
Did he have a word with Rahim? “No I didn’t, but he said ‘well played Saha’ after my hundred.”
Speaking about his competitor Parthiv Patel, Saha said: “When I got injured Parthiv performed. But may be after my double century (in the Irani Cup match last month), the selectors took a decision which everybody needed to accept.”
Asked to compare the knocks, Saha picked the one against Bangladesh. “This attack was more challenging than the Gujarat one as Bangladesh are an international side. There is some difference but the approach was same like my double hundred in the second innings of the Irani Cup. Initially I got a chance but after that I carried on with positive intent,” he said.
The 32-year-old had also hit half-centuries in both innings against New Zealand in September last year, which he held higher. “I value the two half centuries against New Zealand more because the team needed my contribution then and the quality of bowling was good. We needed to set a target of 300... taking all these into account, those two 50s were vital,” he said.
Saha also had a hand in the reversal of umpire Joel Wilson’s decision to adjudge Virat Kohli lbw as he suggested India use the referral. “Virat thought he was out but I told him ‘you have probably stretched your front foot more. Hopefully, the impact may be outside and the ball had spun sharply, it might be missing the leg stump.’ He took a call and was saved,” the West Bengal player informed.
He then revealed the benefits of batting alongside Kohli. “Whenever one bats with Virat, he backs everybody, he would always tell you to play your natural game. ‘If you feel you can hit the ball, go for it. Not that if you are new to the crease you have to defend.’ That’s why I tried playing that shot (referring to the missed stumping chance) but Virat said that it’s not a problem, if you again get a chance, hit it. He always gives you confidence, which is a big plus,” Saha said.
