India's head coach Rahul Dravid has finally come up with a clarification on the conversation between him and Wriddhiman Saha about the latter's position and future in the team. Right after being dropped from India's Test squad for Sri Lanka home series, Saha had said that team management headed by Dravid had told him that it was unlikely he would be considered for the longest format going forward.
"I'm actually not hurt at all. I have deep respect for Wriddhi and his achievements and his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and clarity," Dravid said after India's 3-0 T20 series sweep against West Indies.
The 49-year-old said that he will continue having such conversations with players whether they like the content of the discussion or not.
"It's about conversations I constantly have with players. I don't expect players to always agree with everything I say about them. That's not how it works. You can have difficult conversations with the players, but that doesnt mean you brush it under the carpet and don't have the conversations," Dravid was crystal clear in his approach.
Senior batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, senior wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, and experienced pacer Ishant Sharma were left out of the Tests as the All India senior selection committee named squads for the Sri Lanka series.
Dravid said that his philosophy is to discuss with players even before every playing eleven being picked.
"I always believe in having those conversations before every playing XI is picked and be open to questions such as why they are not playing. It’s natural for players to get upset and feel hurt." Dravid also explained that rationale behind speaking to Wriddhiman was because Rishabh Pant has already established himself as the new No 1 keeper and the Bengal man wouldn't have got chances.
Dravid finally remarked that with Rishabh Pant having already established himself as the team wicketkeeper across formats, the team wanted to groom a young wicketkeeper.
"I was just trying to convey that with RP (Pant) having established himself as our No.1 wicketkeeper-batsman, the idea was to say that we are looking to groom a younger wicketkeeper (KS Bharat). This doesnt change my feelings or respect for Wriddhi." For Dravid, telling a harsh truth is better than avoiding a conversation.
"Easiest thing for me is to not have those conversations and not speak to players about it. That's not what I am going to do.
"But at some stage, I hope they respect the fact that I was able to front up and have those conversations," he added.
Saha last played for India in November against New Zealand in Kanpur, when the team management rested Rishabh Pant. The 37-year-old Saha battled neck spasms to make a fighting, unbeaten half-century in the second innings to set up India's declaration. It was in the same Test that KS Bharat, 10 years Saha's junior, stood-in admirably as a substitute wicketkeeper and impressed with his neat glove work on a turning surface.
Saha retained his place in India's squad on the tour of South Africa, where he didn't play a single Test, even as the chorus over the inclusion of a younger second wicketkeeper, Bharat, grew louder.
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.
