NEW DELHI: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has opened up about his departure from the national team in 2022, stating that it was not an injustice but a decision based on team needs. The 40-year-old played his final match at Eden Gardens in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy game against Punjab on Thursday, marking the end of an illustrious career.
Saha’s international journey effectively concluded in 2021 when the Indian team management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, opted for KS Bharat as Rishabh Pant‘s backup. While the decision was a turning point in his career, Saha harbors no bitterness about it.
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“I wouldn’t call it injustice. That would be selfish. Maybe it wasn’t just one person’s decision. Maybe I wasn’t capable enough or didn’t deliver as expected, so they made their choice,” Saha told reporters. “If I had performed better, this wouldn’t have happened. I don’t dwell on it — I just take the positives from whatever comes my way.”
Despite stepping away from the international arena, Saha remains confident in his abilities and believes he could still contribute to the Indian team.
“If I was in the team, I would have contributed with good catches or good innings. I’ve tried my best for Bengal. In slip fielding, I haven’t missed a single catch. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it,” said Saha, who represented India in 40 Tests and nine ODIs.
While Saha officially announced his retirement in November last year, he had contemplated stepping away from the game earlier. However, he was encouraged by former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and his wife, Romi, to continue for another season.
“I had planned to retire last season itself. But only because of Dadi (Sourav Ganguly) and my wife Romi, I pushed it to this season. Otherwise, I would have retired by now,” he revealed.
Known for his calm demeanor, Saha has always avoided the limelight and maintained a grounded approach to his career.
“I’ve always been like this. It’s my choice to be carefree. I don’t seek attention. I just want to remain the same humble player on the field. I’ve always been comfortable with that.”
Even on the occasion of his farewell match, Saha remained emotionally composed.
“I’ve never been an emotional person, even as a child. There’s no special sentiment about playing my last match. I’ll go out with my friends like always.”
As he steps into retirement, Saha is looking forward to spending more time with his family, something he has missed over nearly two decades of professional cricket.
“Finally, after 18 years, I don’t need a warm-up anymore after this match. Now, I can spend more time with my family.”
CAB president Snehasish Ganguly, right, and Bengal’s captain Anustup Majumdar, left, present a jersey signed by the cricket team to Wriddhiman Saha. (PTI Photo)
Reflecting on his career, Saha acknowledged that while not all his dreams had been realised, he had no regrets.
“Some have been fulfilled, some haven’t. You can’t force every dream to come true. Many people already know about my retirement unofficially.”
Above all, Saha expressed gratitude for the opportunities cricket has given him.
“I am here today because of cricket, which I’ve played my whole life. I have spent so much time with the team, 17 years in the IPL, so why should I regret anything? I’m grateful to everyone. It’s difficult to name each and every person.”
