I am not insecure with Rishabh Pant: Wriddhiman Saha

Soon after MS Dhoni hung his boots from Test cricket, Wriddhiman Saha walked into the side as the preferred wicket-keeper. He was doing his job aptly and was hands down the best behind the wickets in the country until the lightning struck last year to bring his blossoming career to a screeching halt. A shoulder injury led to Saha missing out on India’s away tours after the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The youngster Rishabh Pant got the chance during the England tour after Dinesh Karthik failed and things have changed a lot since then. Pant slammed a century only in the second game of his career in whites and was the second highest run-getter in the Tests against Australia where the conditions were demanding. Despite his frailties with the gloves, he has sealed his place in the side.

But with Saha getting fit, the question now arises about who will be preferred when India next play in the format after the World Cup.

Aim was to be fully fit

However, Wriddhiman Saha has always been asked about being insecured with Rishabh Pant during this period and he has spoke highly about the latter. In an interview with the Times of India, Saha once again clarified his stance stating that there is no competition between him and Pant.

“Not at all. I was not insecure. Being a sportsman you always run the risk of getting injured. The aim was to be fully fit and return stronger. I was out with an injury. Rishabh grabbed his chance and scored runs on a consistent basis. Now my aim is to get back to form and try to make a comeback in the Indian line-up. That’s purely my focus and I have stressed before and I want to make it clear that there is no competition with Rishabh,” he said.

Saha has looked in good form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy scoring 306 runs in 11 games and it is a great news ahead of the IPL. But even he will be concentrating on returning to the Indian Test team later this year and it remains to be seen who will be preferred.

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