Wriddhiman Saha to miss Afghanistan test with thumb injury
BCCI confirmed on Saturday afternoon, June 2, that India’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is out of India’s historic Test match against Afghanistan owing to a thumb injury. The injury occurred during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Qualifier 2 game against Kolkata Knight Riders last month.
Saha has been a doubt for the Afghanistan Test after he had to miss Hyderabad’s IPL final game against Chennai Super Kings last month. In his absence, PTI had earlier reported that KKR skipper and wicketkeeper Karthik has been slated to take his place. Now, with BCCI confirming the Bengal keeper’s injury and absence from the Test, Karthik is among the frontrunners for the role.
“Mr. Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out of the one-off Paytm Test against Afghanistan to be held in Bengaluru from the 14th of June, 2018. Saha suffered an injury to his right thumb while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the VIVO IPL Qualifier 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders on 25th May 2018 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata,” the press release read.
“He was under observation by the medical staff of the BCCI and the management has decided to give him adequate rest before the start of the England Test series. Saha's recovery period is expected to be around five to six weeks. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Mr. Dinesh Karthik as the replacement for injured Saha.”
Though SRH pulled off a late comeback in that game to beat KKR at the Eden Gardens, they eventually went down to a comprehensive defeat at the hands of CSK in the final.