Wriddhiman Saha, a seasoned Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has returned to his home state’s cricket team, West Bengal, after a two-year hiatus. Saha, who previously represented Bengal from 2007 to 2022, is eager to contribute to the team’s success in major domestic tournaments. His return comes after a public dispute with a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official, which led him to seek a no-objection certificate (NOC) to play for Tripura.
The controversy arose in 2022 when Saha was accused by a CAB official of making excuses to skip Ranji Trophy matches. This dispute ultimately prompted him to switch teams. “After playing for almost 15 years with the West Bengal cricket team, I played for the Tripura cricket team for two years. Now I have returned to play for the West Bengal cricket team… As a wicket-keeper batsman, I will try my best to help the team win major tournaments,” Saha told ANI.
Saha’s current focus is on the preparatory camp and the upcoming Ranji Trophy tournaments. He will assess his physical condition before committing to participation in T20 and one-day matches. He expressed his commitment to helping the team achieve success, emphasizing his role as a wicketkeeper-batsman and his desire to mentor younger players.
Saha’s return has been met with enthusiasm by CAB president Snehasish Ganguly, who praised his impressive record of 40 Test matches for India. “When Saha is there, he always gives his 200 percent. We are very focused on domestic cricket. We have a very good side this time,” Ganguly said.
Saha’s last appearance for India was in 2021. He boasts an impressive Test record, having scored 1,353 runs in 40 matches, including three centuries and six fifties. He has also represented India in five ODIs.
Saha’s return to Bengal is seen as a significant boost to the team’s prospects in the upcoming domestic season. His wealth of experience is expected to be invaluable for the team’s success in major tournaments.
