Home
Wriddhiman Saha, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has officially retired from all forms of cricket. His final match was a Ranji Trophy group-stage encounter between Bengal and Punjab at Eden Gardens on February 1. Having previously announced his retirement, Saha concluded his illustrious cricketing career with this Ranji Trophy clash.
wriddhiman Saha retires from all format of the game
Bengal stalwart Saha, who scored over 16000 runs in his career combining Tests, ODIs, List A, First Class and T20 cricket, shared an emotional message expressing his gratitude to his family, the various teams he represented throughout his career, and the support staff who aided him over the years.
In a heartfelt post on social media, Saha reflected on his remarkable 28-year career. He described representing his country, state, district, clubs, university, college, and school as the greatest honor of his life. Saha had previously signaled his intention to retire at the beginning of the current season.
Wriddhiman Saha played 40 Test matches for India and was highly regarded as the nation's premier wicketkeeper in the longest format of the game. However, his career trajectory was somewhat hampered by his batting, which never quite reached the level of contemporaries like MS Dhoni, whose career saw a meteoric rise during the same period. Following Dhoni's retirement from Test cricket, Saha finally secured a regular spot in the playing XI, but his tenure was relatively short-lived as the selectors and team management opted to accelerate the development of Rishabh Pant.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of Wriddhiman Saha's career came in the Indian Premier League final of 2014, where he scored a century against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite Saha's impressive performance, his team, the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), was unable to secure the IPL title.
In the later stages of his IPL career, Saha played for the Gujarat Titans, under the leadership of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill. He had a productive run in his last full season (2023), scoring a total of 371 runs.
This is what Wriddhiman Saha wrote in his emotional post:
"It has been 28 years since I first stepped onto a cricket field in 1997, and what a journey it has been! Representing my country, state, district, clubs, university, college, and school has been the greatest honor of my life."
"Everything I am today, every achievement, every lesson learned— I owe it all to this wonderful game.
Cricket has given me moments of immense joy, unforgettable victories, and invaluable experiences. It has also tested me, shaped me, and taught me resilience. Through the highs and the lows, the triumphs and the setbacks, this journey has made me who I am. But as all things must eventually come to an end, I have decided to retire from all forms of cricket."
"Now it is time to begin a new chapter, dedicating myself to my family and friends, cherishing the moments I may have missed, and embracing life beyond the field.
"I am eternally grateful to my parents, my beloved elder brother Anirban, and my extended family. Their sacrifices and unwavering belief in my dreams made this journey possible.
"To my wife Romi, my daughter Anvi, my son Anvay, and my in-laws—thank you for being my pillar of strength. Your patience, sacrifices, and love kept me going through every challenge and success.
"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the BCCI, its presidents, secretaries, and all office bearers for their support throughout my career.
"A sincere thank you to all my coaches, mentors, physios, trainers, analysts, teammates, logistics teams, masseurs, and every support staff member of the Indian Cricket Team, Bengal Cricket Team, Tripura Cricket Team, and all the clubs, districts, universities, and school teams I had the privilege of representing. Your faith in me and your constant encouragement have meant the world.
"I am deeply thankful to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) for their trust and support throughout my career.
"To my IPL family—KKR, CSK, Kings XI, SRH, and GT—thank you for believing in me and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your journeys. The bonds and memories will stay with me forever.
"A special mention to my childhood coach, Jayanta Bhowmick, who saw something in me long before I saw it in myself. Your guidance, both on and off the field, has been a blessing in my life.
"To my friends, ground staff, net bowlers, dressing room attendants, fans, scorers, well-wishers, critics, and journalists—each of you played a role in my journey. Your support, encouragement, and even your criticism pushed me to be better, to work harder, and to never stop learning. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to our domestic staff, whose dedication and support behind the scenes have been invaluable. Your care and commitment have played a quiet yet significant role in my journey, and I truly appreciate it.
"This game has given me more than I could have ever imagined. It has been my passion, my teacher, my identity. As I walk away from the field, I do so with immense gratitude, carrying memories that will last a lifetime.
"Thank you, cricket. Thank you all."
