Birthday special: Wriddhiman Saha – Top 3 performances in international cricket
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha was often been India’s unsung hero throughout his career. A prodigious keeper who had to wait a long time for his turn, like many others, because of the grand figure of MS Dhoni in the Indian team. But Saha stamped his authority in the longer format of the game after getting his long-awaited opportunity. Although India have opted for the much more expressive Rishabh Pant ahead of Saha in recent times, his wicketkeeping skills remain second to none in the country. On the eve of his 38th Birthday, we list some of his most remarkable innings for India.
- 104 against West Indies, 2016
India travelled to St Lucia for the third Test match against West Indies, leading 1-0 in the four-match series. West Indies won the toss and put the visitors into bat first with the series on the line. Despite KL Rahul’s half-century at the top of the order. India were reeling at 126/5. That is when India’s last recognized batter Wriddhiman Saha and all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin got together for a mammoth 213-run stand for the sixth wicket. Both the batters notched their respective centuries, with Saha falling for a well-made 104. In reply to India’s 353, West Indies folded for a meek 225 runs, handing India a considerable lead. India eventually won the match comfortably by 237 runs.
- 106* against Bangladesh, 2017
Hyderabad hosted the first Test match between neighbours India and Bangladesh in 2017. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first in the series opener. India made a strong start to the innings after KL Rahul’s early departure as Murli Vijay registered a masterful ton. But it was the glittering double century from the Indian skipper Virat Kohli that stole the limelight. Kohli was complimented brilliantly by Wriddhiman Saha, who compiled a fluent century of his own. Saha’s and Kohli’s inning helped India post a humongous 687 runs to peg the visitors back. India eventually went on to win the game by 208 runs.
- 117 against Australia, 2017
Australia travelled to Ranchi to take on India in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2017. The visitors elected to bat first after skipper Steve Smith won the toss. The Aussies were buoyed by his magnificent unbeaten 178 and posted a giant total of 451 runs in their first innings. India responded in kind, registering a gigantic total of 603 runs thanks to Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha’s glittering partnership. The latter’s combative 117 was the highest score of his Test career. The match eventually fizzled out in a draw after the visitors held their nerve on a tense final day.
