Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri Back Wriddhiman Saha To Play In South Africa Tests - Reports

Team India will look to consolidate their position at the top of the ICC World Test Championship in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa. If reports are to be believed, Wriddhiman Saha might pip Rishabh Pant in the playing XI for the first time since 2018.

The Bengal wicket-keeper coincidentally last played his Test against South Africa in 2018. He suffered an injury which aggravated more while playing in the Indian Premier League in the Sunrisers Hyderabad. As a result, he was out of action for the whole year including tours of England and Australia.

It was then Rishabh Pant made strong claims with two centuries to cement his place ahead of Wriddhiman Saha. But the young wicket-keeper had a poor outing against West Indies which raised claims of bringing Saha back in the mix.

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Moreover, the veteran wicket-keeper batsman has also looked in good touch with the bat in his recent outings for India A. Reports have emerged that Wriddhiman Saha will play ahead of Rishabh Pant in the upcoming Test series.

As per reports in TOI, the selectors want to give a final chance to the young wicket-keeper batsman for one final time. But skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri have backed Saha to play right from the start of the series.

“The selectors are in a mood to give one final chance to Pant in the first Test, but the team management (coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli) want Saha to play from the start of the series itself,” the report said.

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It also added that Rishabh Pant’s poor outing with the bat has had a negative impact on his wicket-keeping. He managed to score only 58 runs from the two Test matches against West Indies. Wriddhiman Saha is a far better wicket-keeper than Pant and with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja working together; India will need a better gloveman.

“The problem is, Pant’s lack of success with the bat is hurting his confidence while keeping wickets too. His DRS reviews aren’t great. In Indian conditions, on turning wickets, he may struggle. Saha is a far better ‘keeper than him, and get a few useful runs lower down the order too,” the source stated.