Rishabh Pant Or Wriddhiman Saha India's No.1 Test WK? MSK Prasad Responds

While the meteoric rise of Rishabh Pant is definitely a good news for Indian cricket, it might have landed the selectors in dilemma. The selectors will definitely be in a tight spot when Wriddhiman Saha recovers fully from his shoulder injury and makes a comeback to the Test team.

Before being sidelined with the injury last year, Saha was India’s number one wicketkeeper in Tests. However, the untimely injury might have derailed his career and the reason is definitely Rishabh Pant. The Delhi star earned his Test debut during the tour of England and has not looked back since then. He scored a majestic century in the final Test of the England series and became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test ton on English soil.

It was followed by two impressive fifties against Windies at home before he all but sealed his place in the playing eleven with a stunning display in the historic Test tour of Australia. The youngster finished the series as the second highest-run scorer, amassing 350 runs including a monumental 159-run knock in the final Test in Sydney.

With Pant doing nothing wrong, the selectors will have a hard time picking one between him and Saha after the latter recovers. Pant’s form might see the team-management stick with him.

However, chief selector MSK Prasad has insisted that veteran Saha is still in the selectors’ scheme of things.

“Saha has been our No.1 wicketkeeper till he got injured. Subsequently, we have given an opportunity to young Rishabh, which he has grabbed with both hands. Having said that, Saha is still in our scheme of things for the longer format,” Prasad told Cricbuzz.

Prasad also expressed his delight over India’s historic Test series win in Australia. India beat the hosts 2-1 to register their first Test series win on the Australian soil.

“It’s a huge honour for me and my colleagues that we are at the helm when such a historical feat has been achieved. Like any another passionate Indian cricket admirer, I feel very happy that this team has achieved a phenomenal milestone after 71 years on Australian soil,” he said.