It was surely not a good day for India's wicketkeeper batter Wriddhiman Saha, who was dropped from the Test squad for Sri Lanka home series. It must have a tough thing to process for the 37-year-old. But what triggered him the most was a chat from a renowned journalist (name not revealed).
On Saturday (February 19), Saha took to twitter to share a screenshot of an untoward chat from a journalist who was after the player for an interview but couldn't get it. In return the journalist said some inappropriate things to Saha. Post which, the hurt Saha felt insulted and said that after all his contributions to Indian cricket, this is what he is facing face from a so called “Respected” journalist.
"After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone," Saha tweeted.
The journalist was seemingly pestering the player for an interview. The chat read," Do an interview with me. Will be good. If you want to be democratic then I won't push. They choose one wicketkeeper, whoever is the best. You try to choose 11 journalists, which is not the best according to me. Choose whoever can help the most."
"You did not call. Never again will I interview you. I don't take insults kindly and I will remember this. This wasn't something you should have done," the chat added.
Saha has not revealed the journalists name as yet.
Earlier, India's squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanak was announced by BCCI the selection committee took some tough calls. Four senior players - Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ishant Sharma have been dropped for the two-match series. While Chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma stated that the doors are not closed for Pujara and Rahane, he did give a hint on the future of Saha.
"Look, age isn't something we give a lot of credence. On what grounds Wriddhi has been dropped, we can't tell you. But there comes a time when you start thinking about youngsters when you don't play for long. Also I don't know why Saha is not playing Ranji Trophy. That's not my jurisdiction and that's what state unit must look into," Chetan said.
Bengal-born Saha is one of the best wicketkeepers in the country currently. However, he failed to secure a spot in the side due to his lukewarm returns with the bat recently. In 2021, 37-year-old Saha only got to play 2 Tests. Rishabh Pant has been preferred over the veteran for a long time and judging by the current situation, the future of Saha looks bleak.
Sharma, while addressing a virtual press conference, implied that the board is now thinking about youngsters.
For Sharma, everyone who is on the bench for a long time needs to go back to Ranji trophy and prove what they have to offer.
"That's why we want players to go and play Ranji Trophy if you are not playing international or rested due to workload management or injured and undergoing rehabilitation."
Saha agreed to that. "Yes, the team management told me that I would not be considered henceforth. I could not tell this ..so long as I was part of the India team setup."
It was earlier reported that Wriddhiman has pulled out of Ranji Trophy as he has been told that he wont' be selected in Indian team.
"The team management had told me that I would not be considered henceforth. I could not tell this so long as I was part of the India team setup," an explosive Wriddhiman told mediapersons on Saturday (February 19).
"Even coach Rahul Dravid suggested that I think about taking retirement," he spilled the beans on classified conversations with head coach.
Wriddhiman also hit out at BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, whom he claimed had assured him that he shouldn't worry about his place in the team.
"When I hit an unbeaten 61 taking a pain-killer in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur last November, Dadi (as Sourav was referred to by Bengal players) congratulated me over Whatsapp.
"He even mentioned that I should not worry about anything so long as he is at the helm of the BCCI. Such a message from the board president really boosted my confidence. But I failed to understand why everything changed so fast," he added.
Meanwhile, the first Test will be played from March 4 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh and the second Test will be played from March 12 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
India’s Test squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin (subject to fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar.
