AUS vs IND: Should India persist with Saha? Or is it time to include Pant?
Indian team suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Australian Test side as the visitors succumbed to their lowest score in Test cricket. The severe loss in the first Test at Adelaide has sparked a few debates amongst the Indian fans. Many of the selections, which were already under scrutiny, are being re-discussed. One of the most important amongst them is of the wicketkeeper.
The current Indian squad for the tour has two wicket-keeper batsmen in Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant. While KL Rahul has kept wickets in the limited-overs formats, he is not in the reckoning in Tests. Choosing one between Saha and Pant in the playing XI has been a headache for the selection committee as both have proved their merit in the longest format of the game.
Saha vs Pant
Wriddhiman, who is widely recognized as the best wicketkeeper in the team has been the obvious choice, but the management can’t ignore Pant who had a great Test tour in 2018 in England and Australia. When it comes to batting skills, the youngster from Delhi is much ahead of Saha as he is known for his power-hitting abilities. In just 13 Tests, Pant has accumulated 814 runs at an average of 38.8 while Saha, on the other hand, has 1238 Test runs under his name in 37 matches at an average of 30.2.
However, unlike the limited-overs format, Test cricket needs specialised cricketers such as bowlers, batsmen and wicket-keeper. Thus, a Test wicket-keeper should be selected based on his wicket-keeping ability rather than his batting talent as in the longest format a team has to take all the 20 wickets to win and a majority of wickets are taken through wicket-keeper (catch/stumping etc). There is no doubt in the fact that Saha is much better than Rishabh behind the stumps.
Saha stands atop in terms of his ability to grab a ball behind the woods against the pacers. He collects 96.9% of the deliveries that come in his way after taking an edge of the batsmen’s willow. While Sri Lankan gloveman Niroshan Dickwella stands behind him at second with 95.5%, Indian youngster Rishabh Pant relinquishes at the ninth position with 91.6%.
#WriddhimanSaha got selected over #RishabhPant. Scores 9 runs while Pant has scored 103(73) practice D/N match (Saha scored duck in the same match). Now he better not drop anything while keeping the wickets. #AUSvIND #AUSvsIND #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS @Wriddhipops @RishabhPant17
— Rushikesh Bhange (@Rushikeshbhang3) December 18, 2020
Poor outing in Adelaide
However, Saha had a poor outing in the first Test. Not only did he manage only 13 runs with the bat in both the innings but also failed to convert half-chances. He did miss a few tough chances but they were expected to be converted by a keeper of his quality. Considering the batting collapse India underwent, the selectors are likely to favour Pant’s batting skills above Saha’s keeping prowess for the second Test.
Though the Bengal-born has better records in the wicketkeeping, Rishabh Pant can be favoured ahead of him considering the team situation. Also, Saha is 36-year-old and would be playing the game for a maximum of two to three years more. Pant, on the other hand, can prove to be a long term investment for the Indian team.
