Kolkata: Indian skipper Virat Kohli other than being one of the best cricketers in the world also is someone who isn’t to be messed with. Almost at all times, he lets his bat do most of the talking but he doesn’t step down from a verbal challenge which is thrown at him.
India’s gloveman in Test cricket Wriddhiman Saha, who has played a good part of his international career under Kohli believes that the latter’s excitement and way of expressing it is what differentiates him with former skipper MS Dhoni, who was known for his calm nature.
Talking to the SportsCrunch in an exclusive chat during the launch of a music CD by Bhuvan Chattopadhyay at Shobhabazar Rajbari’s ‘Rajmahal’ on Tuesday, Saha said, “Firstly, there is a difference of age. Secondly, I feel that there is a difference of expression. Dhoni, whether the team wins or loses, whether anyone drops catches or score runs, always remains the same. But Virat always gets excited whenever there’s a wicket and he is more expressive I feel.”
In recent times, the Bengal wicketkeeper batsman has been receiving a lot of praise for his wonderful wicketkeeping skills. While Saha continues to enjoy the faith of skipper Kohli, many others believe that Saha is one of India’s best Test wicketkeepers till date.
Speaking on this, he said, “Whoever are telling this might be in a better position to explain. On my part, I have always tried to do what I have been doing since childhood. I always set a target of catching every ball.”
Despite being successful for India in the whites, Saha hasn’t played too much ODI cricket. He has played just nine 50-over matches for India compared to the 28 Tests he has played for India so far.
His average in ODI’s is 13.66 with a highest score of 16. The last time he played an ODI for India was in 2014 against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. But his big-hitting skills came to the fore when he scored a century in the IPL final in 2014 itself.
Despite the old warhorse MS Dhoni still proving himself to be a crucial part of India’s limited overs’ setup, Saha hasn’t stopped from dreaming of playing for India in all formats some day.
“There isn’t a single person who doesn’t have desires. Every cricketer wants to play at all levels in all the formats and ultimately, it all depends on the selection procedures and the performance in the Ranji Trophy other domestic matches and also for the Indian team,” said Saha.
After whitewashing Sri Lanka in their own backyard, Kohli’s men would now look forward to handling the Australian challenge in five ODI’s and three T20I’s. Wriddhi, quite rightly so, wants that the Indians remain consistent in the 50-format and repeat whatever they did in the island nation.
He said, “I would want them to replicate the same form they were in against Sri Lanka.”