IND v SA | Wriddhiman Saha will keep against South Africa in first Test, confirms Virat Kohli
Indian captain Virat Kohli has confirmed that Wriddhiman Saha will replace the struggling Rishabh Pant in the Indian line-up for the first Test against South Africa. Kohli also confirmed that both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin will feature in the playing XI ahead of leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Back in the Test team after a long injury-forced absence, 34-year-old Saha is all set to take back his mantle as India’s No.1 wicket-keeper, in the longest format at least. His skipper Kohli went further, however, calling him the best in the business in the world.
"Yes, Saha is fit and fine to go. He is going to start the series for us. His keeping credentials are for everyone to see. He has done well with the bat whenever he has got a chance. It was unfortunate that he was out with an injury. According to me, he is the best keeper in the world. With these conditions he starts for us," Kohli told PTI on the eve of the first Test at Vizag.
When Saha suffered a shoulder injury after the tour of South Africa in January 2018, Rishabh Pant burst on to the scene with centuries in England and Australia. Although both were in the squad for the recently concluded West Indies tour, it was Pant who featured in both matches. This was despite all the criticism being hurled at the 21-year-old for reckless stroke-making. However, Kohli clarified that the team management wanted to ease Saha back into the mix.
"We felt like Rishabh, given the opportunities, had done well. Although Saha was always going to start but we felt like just let him ease back into things rather than just forcing him into starting immediately. We all felt he has just come back, although he is keeping well, batting well but, it's fair to give Rishabh a few more opportunities because of what he has done in the past season for us," Kohli explained.
"Saha was always the one we would back as a pure keeper in Test cricket. He has done well under pressure situations in the past for us, so it was just about finding the right opportunity and the moment to bring him back in.
"And you need to be wary in a team environment where you understand when to bring a player back and when to give another guy more opportunities. I felt, for now, it's the right time for Saha to come back and get into his zone," Kohli said.
The skipper also ticked off one more dilemma in team selection: the question of which two spinners out of three will make it to the playing XI tomorrow.
"Yes, Ashwin will start. Ashwin and Jadeja both will start here. Look Jaddu we felt was in a better zone as far as performing overseas and what he has done in the past season for the team,” Kohli said.
"Wherever the conditions provide us to go with two spinners, Ash is always going to be a threat and in home conditions with his batting and the way he bowls as well he is always going to be starting with Jadeja. That was a no brainer for us," Kohli added.
