As the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia draws closer, the Indian team management is facing a crucial decision regarding the selection of a the wicketkeeper-batsman WTC final, as KL Rahul got injured recently while playing in a match in IPL 2023. In IPL, his form with the bat had been a cause for concern as he hadn’t shown anything special with his bat this season.
In contrast, the best contender who can replace Rahul in WTC final is Wriddhiman Saha because he has been a regular member of the Indian Test team in the past, and at present he is in fine form with the bat in IPL 2023. With Saha’s recent performance against Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG), the question arises whether he can be the replacement face of KL Rahul in the WTC final.
In domestic cricket also, Saha was playing for Bengal in a Vijay Hazare Trophy, showed his class with an unbeaten knock of 103 off just 64 balls. His innings was studded with 14 boundaries and 2 sixes, and in IPL’s 51st match we saw Saha’s inning in a perfect mix of aggression and caution, as he played some delightful strokes all around the ground while also being watchful when required.
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In this inning, Saha played a brilliant 81 runs inning in just 43 balls with 10 fours & 4 sixes. Overall Saha has played 38 Test matches for India, scoring 1238 runs at an average of 30.19. While these numbers may not be exceptional, they do not do justice to Saha’s talent as a batsman. He has scored 4 Test centuries and has often played crucial innings lower down the order to rescue India from difficult situations.
After this amazing knock of 81 runs against Lucknow team, Virat posted an Instagram story in which he praised Wriddhiman Saha’s inning, hence the assumptions begins that in absence of Rahul, Saha can be the best option on his place.
The WTC final is a high-pressure match, and India would want to field their best possible XI. And Saha is a proven performer in Test cricket and has been in good touch with the bat in domestic cricket. He also brings a wealth of experience to the table and is known for his excellent wicketkeeping skills.