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An interesting and heart-warming story about Wriddhiman Saha, who primarily known for his solid wicketkeeping skills, has emerged. It is learnt that the Bengal stumper played a significant mentoring role during his time with the Indian team. When Rishabh Pant was being groomed as India’s future wicketkeeper-batter, especially during Virat Kohli’s captaincy and Ravi Shastri’s coaching tenure, Saha was asked to help mentor Pant, who was relatively inexperienced at that time in Test cricket.
Pant, with his aggressive batting style and potential, was seen as a future star, but Saha’s experience and technique were highly regarded. Despite being in competition for the spot behind the stumps, Saha, known for his professionalism and team spirit, helped Pant improve his skills as a wicketkeeper. This mentoring role explains Saha’s selflessness and commitment to the team’s long-term success, even when his place in the XI was under threat due to Pant’s rise. The partnership between Saha and Pant, although initially a bit of a competition, eventually turned into one of mutual respect, with Saha contributing to Pant’s growth during a crucial phase of his career.
That was a turning point in Indian cricket. As Pant’s performances started to shine, especially with his match-winning contributions in key Test series like the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the spotlight shifted largely to him. His fearless batting style, combined with his wicketkeeping, rapidly made him a fan favorite. Pant’s ability to turn games with both bat and gloves made him an integral part of the Indian team, particularly in the Test format.
This led to Saha being sidelined for long periods, despite his excellent wicketkeeping skills. As Pant became the go-to keeper for India, Saha was often left out of playing elevens, and the young Pant’s rise meant that Saha’s role became more of a backup rather than a starter.
Even kids aspiring to be cricketers began looking up to Pant more than Saha, who, despite his superior wicketkeeping technique, wasn’t as flamboyant with the bat. Pant’s aggressive style resonated with younger players, who admired his ability to change the course of a match with his audacious batting.
Saha, on the other hand, became somewhat of a quiet, unsung hero—a reliable keeper and steady batter, but his role became less glamorous compared to Pant’s, who was both a wicketkeeper and an explosive batter capable of scoring match-winning centuries. This shift in focus from Saha to Pant reflected the evolving nature of modern cricket, where entertainment and aggressive, match-winning performances tend to capture the imagination of younger generations.
