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Wriddhiman Saha on his availability chance for Australia tour: Unsure but hopeful
By Sandy - Oct 12, 2018 12:21 am
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Indian Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is working hard to recover from his injury and trying to make available himself for the national team selection as early as possible. While he is not sure yet to become fit prior to the upcoming Australia tour, he also claimed that he has no competition with the young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

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Wriddhiman Saha

Since the beginning of this calendar year (2018), Saha is struggling continuously to maintain his fine fitness level as he is facing various injuries. While he had a hamstring injury during the South Africa tour early in this year, he picked a thumb injury during the IPL 2018 and later he faced a serious shoulder injury that needed a surgery, which he did in Manchester.

Also read: Virat Kohli supports Ravichandran Ashwin on his latest SG ball comment

Now, Saha is working hard to regain his fitness. Currently, he is spending his maximum time at NCA where he is doing range and strength training.

Talking to Sportstar about his present fitness status, Saha said, “I obviously feel a lot better. I am spending 99 per cent of my time at the NCA. At times, after a month-long session, I get a four-day break to visit family. I am doing range and strength training at the moment.”

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Wriddhiman Saha

When Saha was asked the details of range training, he replied, “It tests your hands with respect to your shoulder. Range in the sense, movement. How long your arms can reach out etc. There are many exercises. Once I pass the range and strength tests, the cricketing activities will begin.”

Since the South Africa tour early in this year, Saha hasn’t played for the national team. He is also unavailable in the ongoing two-match home Test series against Windies. When Saha was asked about his chance to play in the Australia tour, where the four-match Test series will begin on December 2, he replied in unsure but with the hope.

Saha said, “There is still a lot of time. The West Indies series has just started. See, I haven’t been told a ‘no’ yet. This is how I would like to think about it.  The idea is to get fitter as soon as I can.”

Also read: Two different Indian teams can play matches simultaneously during upcoming Australia tour

In the absence of Saha, the young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has earned a chance in Test cricket and he has impressed very much with his performances. Saha claimed that he has no competition with Pant or other wicketkeepers.

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Rishabh Pant

Also read: Rishabh Pant selected in the first two ODIs squad of Windies series

Saha quoted on that, “I haven’t been able to watch all the games to be honest. But I have watched Rishabh. He played Test cricket the way he plays T20. This is his style and he has been successful this way. I never think who is playing in my place. I will do my job, and selection isn’t in my hands. If I do well, I will get a chance. Rishabh, Dinesh (Karthik) or Parthiv (Patel), whoever plays, they all will try to do their best, like I do.”