Indian captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday revealed that Wriddhiman Saha, not Rishabh Pant, will be the wicketkeeper for the team in the three-match Test series against South Africa, beginning from October 2.
“Wriddhiman Saha will keep for us in this Test series,” said Kohli in the pre-match press conference at Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
Saha last played a Test during the South Africa tour in January 2018. Pant burst on to the scene in his absence and with centuries in England and Australia, became the team’s number one wicket-keeper in the longest format.
Of late Pant has been criticized for reckless stroke-making and that may have have been a factor in the team management’s decision to start the Freedom Series with Saha.
The 34-year-old, in 32 Tests has scored 1164 runs at an average of 30.63.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
Saha to keep in #IndvSA Test series. While it’s fair Penalise Pant for not taking his chances in white ball cricket, he’s done exceedingly well in Tests. A Century in England, a century in Aus…first Indian keeper to do so. Record number of dismissals in Aus to boot. 1/2
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 1, 2019
Drop him in white ball cricket if you want to penalise him for poor outings in white-ball cricket. By dropping him in Tests, you’d taken away the only format he was exceptional for Team India.
Anyway, wishing Saha all the very best. It’s hard not to feel happy for him. 👍 2/2— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 1, 2019
The decision to have Saha keep wickets in the home tests is a clear signal on the kind of wickets that we can expect and therefore, the kind of skills needed. There was never any doubt that Saha is the best keeper in the country, the call was always about Pant and the future
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 1, 2019
Just days after Ravi Shastri said he'll back Rishabh Pant to the hilt comes the news that he's been dropped from the Test XI for South Africa.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) October 1, 2019
the rap on the knuckles is here…#INDvSA
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) October 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/Boomrah_/status/1178915646911856640
You cannot drop Pant in the format he has begun the best. You want to improve Pant's keeping, give him more games. Dhoni wasn't the best keeper starting, he improved with game time.
They keep mixing formats and expect results. It's nonsense and has already cost a few players.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 1, 2019
Rishabh Pant loses wicket-keeper’s spot for Test series v SA. Not so much for his lack of batting success in WI (tho that would have contributed too) as for his glovework. Saha’s superior ‘keeping skills on pitches with turn and probably low bounce swung it in his favour
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 1, 2019
Wriddhiman Saha to keep wickets for India in the series v South Africa.
Definitely got the nod ahead of Pant for his wicketkeeping skills against the turning ball.
Handy batsman too.Scored 60 v SA A recently in Mysore
He last played a Test match v SA at Cape Town in 2018#INDvSA— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 1, 2019
Kohli's 1st eng tour : 134 (10 inn)
Pant's 1st eng tour : 162 (6 inn)Vk's 1st Aus tour : 300 (8 inn)
Pant's 1st Aus tour : 350 (7 inn)Vk's 1st WI tour : 76 (5 inn)
Pant's 1st WI tour : 58 (3 inn)Vk's 1st home test series : 115(2 inn)
Pant's 1st home test series : 184(2 inn)— Spidey (@MrStarksPeter) October 1, 2019
