Sourav Ganguly Promised Me A Spot Till He's At BCCI, Rahul Dravid Suggested Me Of Retirement And The Selectors Dropped Me: Wriddhiman Saha Exposes BCCI's Dual Standards

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, Wriddhiman Saha, has come out all guns firing at the BCCI, team management, and Indian selection committee after his recent axing from team India ahead of the Sri Lanka series. It is noteworthy that Chetan Sharma, the Chairman of the National Selection Committee, on Saturday, announced India’s Test and T20I squad for the series against Sri Lanka.

Some very notable exclusions from the Test team were that of Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wirddhiman Saha, and Ishant Sharma. Chetan Sharma mentioned that all the four players were informed about the decision of not keeping them in the loop for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and that he had personally requested all four of them to participate in the Ranji Trophy.

Chetan Sharma stressed the fact that the selection committee is of the view that the selection criteria for the Test team will heavily rely on the players’ performance in the Indian domestic circuit.

Wriddhiman Saha Had Already Showed Signs Of Defiance

It is worth remembering that Wirddhiman Saha opted out of the Ranji Trophy 2022 citing personal reasons at the last moment. Reports emerged suggesting that Saha took this step as he was given an indication by the selection committee of his axing from the Test squad and he did not seem very convinced with the reasoning behind it as Saha has been a regular performer for the Indian team in red-ball cricket.

On Saturday too, when Chetan Sharma was asked in the press conference the reasoning behind Saha’s axing, he said, “I can’t tell you on what grounds he (Saha) has been dropped. It is for the selectors. All I can tell you is that he was told before.”

Saha Tears Apart BCCI And Selection Committee

In a recent interview with the Times of India, Wriddhiman Saha said, “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.”

“Even coach Rahul Dravid suggested that I think about taking retirement,” Wriddhiman Saha further added.

“When I hit an unbeaten 61 taking a painkiller in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur last November, Dadi (as Sourav Ganguly was referred to by Bengal players) congratulated me over Whatsapp. He even mentioned that I should not worry about anything as 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,” Wriddhiman Saha vented.

Saha has clearly given signs of joining the Bengal squad and fighting for a spot in the Indian Test team. However, after his explosive shots involving the Board President, the Head Coach and the selection committee, it seems he will have to pull off a very amazing trick out of his sleeve to redeem his spot. With age also not being by his side, Saha’s comeback in the Indian Test setup looks damp presently.