Wriddhiman Saha Quashes Chetan Sharma's Claim Of Senior Players Being Dropped Only For The Sri Lanka Tour
The 37-year-old Indian wicket-keeper batter Wriddhiman Saha has vehemently opposed the comments of Team India’s chairman of selectors, Chetan Sharma, who claimed that the senior players are being left out only for the Sri Lanka series.
India’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka was announced. Four senior players – Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Saha were all left out with an eye on building for the future. However, Chetan insisted that it isn’t the end of the road for them.
They were asked to return to the Ranji Trophy and score runs, regain form, improve any issues with their game, and then they will once again be considered for the national Test team. However, Saha has now refuted these statements directly, stating it isn’t a one-time thing.
“Chetan Sharma told me that they will not consider me for the Sri Lanka series. I asked him whether it is just for the Sri Lanka series, or is it also beyond that? He took a pause and then said, from now on, you will not be considered,” Saha was quoted as saying to Sportstar.
“He said they were looking at a younger talent” – Wriddhiman Saha
K Srikar Bharat has been long seen as a potential option in Tests and a backup choice for Rishabh Pant. Going by the squad for the Sri Lanka Tests, it is quite obvious that the management is looking to groom Bharat. As elaborated by Saha, this is exactly what he was told by Chetan as well.
“I asked him the same question – whether it is for my performance or for my age? He said that they were looking at a younger talent. But he also advised me to play the Ranji Trophy, but the call is yours,” Saha added.
Saha also revealed that he has a lot of cricket left in him with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has not even begun considering retirement from international cricket yet.
