Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha feels that the number six batting position in the Indian Test squad is a flexible one depending on the conditions. In the first Test against Sri Lanka, Saha, who has a 40 plus average in first-class and three Test centuries, came in at No.7 and 8 in both innings.
Asked if the balance is hampered if he has to bat at those positions, Saha replied: “It’s not that I always bat at No 7 (or No 8) as I have batted at No 6 also. We (along with Ashwin and Jadeja) are being rotated as batting position depends on the strength of the opposition bowlers.”
While the opening slot has been shared between Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara has been a steady one down with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane making the next two slots their own. However, after the retirement of VVS Laxman, the No 6 position, which requires someone who can play with some grit in case of a collapse or face the second new ball with tail-enders, has not seen a permanent batsman.
Talking about the same, Saha said, “Favourable conditions determine the slots whether it is Nos 6, 7 or 8. It can be any position as per the team management’s call. The team morale was fantastic even though we couldn’t bat as per expectation in the first innings. But we made a good comeback in the second innings. Shikhar, Rahul and Virat batted well and when you get them seven down for less than 100, it automatically boosts your morale. Maybe with a bit more time at our disposal, we could have won.”
The Bengal gloveman reckons that had a few decisions early on in the Lankan second innings gone their way, it could have been a different story. He said, “We tried hard but initially if we could have got the first few decisions quickly, it could have been different. But time was also a constraint as we first wanted to be safe and set a score that was unattainable and then attacks. That was our gameplan so that bowlers would go all out.”
With India going with five specialist bowlers, Saha knows that the importance of scoring runs in the middle and lower order rests on him, Jadeja and Ashwin. He said, “You can only win Test matches by taking 20 wickets so preference is always given to bowlers. Now (if five bowlers are playing), you need contribution from everyone — myself, Ashwin and Jadeja along with lower order.”
Wriddhiman concluded by talking about the preparations for the South African tour, he said, “I have always believed in the match by match preparation. Yes, SA series is at the back of our minds but when you win a Test match, you take that confidence into the next game and that’s what we are trying to do.”
