Policy of backing injured players a huge positive: Saha

Hyderabad, February 10

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Wriddhiman Saha hailed the team management’s clear-cut policy of giving the injured players a chance to make a comeback into the playing XI once they are fully fit as a “huge positive”, saying that it certainly has an effect on their performance.

Saha was ruled out of England Test series due to tendonitis (thigh muscle injury) and his replacement Parthiv Patel did well in whatever opportunities he got. But the team management had always made it clear that Saha is India’s No. 1 wicketkeeper and takes his place whenever he is fit. 

“It’s a great plus for the players (knowing their status). Because after an injury hiatus, when someone makes a comeback, if he is clearly told that ‘as and when you recover, you will be back in the team,’ the individual gets more motivated and that reflects in his performance,” Saha said after his second hundred today.

Even though he is India’s No. 1 wicketkeeper, Saha complimented Patel for his glovework but said that one needs to accept the selectors’ decision. “When I got injured, Parthiv came in and performed. Whenever he has got chances, he has performed. But maybe, after my double hundred in the Irani Cup the selectors took a decision, which everybody needs to accept,” said the 32-year-old from Siliguri.

Talking about his Irani Cup double hundred against Gujarat, Saha said Bangladesh’s attack is an “international one” and is better than Gujarat, but his approach in both the innings was the same — to remain positive and attack. “Bangladesh’s attack is more challenging than Gujarat as it is an international team. There is a difference between the two but his approach was same like it was in the Irani Cup. Initially, I got a reprieve but after that I carried on with a positive intent. My aim was to bat as long as possible and contribute as much as possible for the team,” the Bengal wicketkeeper said. — PTI

Had seen Kohli only on TV: Miraz

Mehedi Hasan Miraz is only five Test matches old and till date had seen Virat Kohli’s batting only on television. But after bowling 42 overs on a good batting surface and a lot of them to the Indian captain, Miraz feels that it has been like a good learning experience. “Obviously, this is a good experience as I had watched his (Kohli) batting only on TV. The best thing was that I bowled the way I wanted to. I tried bowling in the good areas but they even played the good deliveries well,” the former Bangladesh U-19 skipper said. — PTI