I haven’t seen MS Dhoni sledge ever, says Wriddhiman Saha

I haven’t seen MS Dhoni sledge ever, says Wriddhiman Saha

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Wriddhiman Saha says he doesn’t believe sledging is a compulsory part of the game and he has never seen MS Dhoni choose that path to unsettle opponents. The wicket-keeper batsman will play his 100th first-class game for India when they face Sri Lanka in Pallekele on August 12.

Despite not being a like-for-like replacement for Mahendra Singh Dhoni in terms of batting in India’s Test squad, Wriddhiman Saha has definitely made an impact, and he wants to keep his approach similar to that of the former captain behind the stumps.   

The 32-year-old has never seen Dhoni sledge from behind the stumps and given his reserved nature, he is likely to follow that route despite many around him resorting to it. Speaking to PTI, the man from Siliguri said, “I haven't seen MS Dhoni sledge ever. So, it is not compulsory that you have to sledge. Sometimes (in order to unsettle opposition), we can twist things and say like the pitch is poor, or you have played a poor shot. That much is fine."

Among the greats that have donned the gloves in this sport, Saha admires Adam Gilchrist greatly. He said, “I liked Adam Gilchrist from childhood -- both his batting and keeping style. I think of him as an ideal keeper. There are other wicketkeepers like Mark Boucher and Ian Healy. They were also good. But Adam Gilchrist is my favourite.".

The boy from North-Bengal had his first-class debut from Bengal against Hyderabad back in 2007. Three years of consistent displays led to a national call-up in 2010 in India’s Test game against South Africa in Nagpur. He has played 27 Tests since then scoring over 1000 runs with an average of 33.21.

India’s third Test against Sri Lanka that starts this Saturday would mark his 100 first-class game for India, but he was surprisingly unaware of it. He said, “I am just being told that this is my 100th first-class match. I didn't know. It is a milestone but I will try playing as long as possible."   

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