IND vs NZ 1st Test: Wriddhiman Saha hits crucial half-century: Wriddhiman Saha – one of the two half centurions for India in the second innings of the Kanpur Test – stepped up at a crucial juncture to not only bail India out of trouble but also keep substitute keeper KS Baharat at bay for the next match. Saha, who didn’t keep the wickets on Day 3 due to stiff neck, was battling through neck pain and scored a hard-fought half-century to help India post a healthy target of 294 runs for New Zealand. Follow InsideSport.in for more updates
The 37-year-old had a tough competition with the substitute keeper KS Baharat after the latter impressed everyone with his impressive glovework on Day 3 when Saha missed out due to stiff neck. But the hard-fought fifty from Saha seems to have come at the right time for the Bengal stumper as he is most likely to keep wickets in the 2nd Test in Mumbai if gets match-fit.
IND vs NZ 1st Test: Wriddhiman Saha battles through neck pain to score crucial half-century on return, keeps KS Bharat at bay for another match
FIFTY!
A hard fought half-century for @Wriddhipops. His 6th 50 in Test cricket 👏👏
Live – https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/aIir7ZKUeQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 28, 2021
Saha – who is regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers due to his sharp reflexes and excellent glovework behind the wicket – got an opportunity to keep the wickets after Rishabh Pant was rested for the entire series against New Zealand.
However, On Saturday, November 27, just minutes before the start of Day 3’s play, the Bengal stumper complained of stiff neck and the substitute keeper Srikar Bharat was told to do the job in the middle. Bharat grabbed the opportunity with both hands and impressed everyone including some of the former greats with his good glove work. Srikar Bharat chipped in with two sharp catches behind the wicket and a stumping to end the day as ‘Super Sub’ for India.
Also read: IND vs NZ 1st Test: Super-sub Srikar Bharat reveals he only had 12 minutes to get set for the game
Now, with Wriddhiman Saha stepping up along with Shreyas Iyer to bail out India from trouble, Srikar Bharat may have to wait a bit longer. Saha was dismissed cheaply at just 1 run in the 1st innings but his unbeaten 61 runs knock in the second innings played a key role in helping India post a healthy target of 284 runs for New Zealand.
Although, it has to be seen how serious Saha’s neck issue is as the 37-year-old was seen getting some assistance from the team’s physio during drinks breaks in India’s innings. Saha also didn’t keep later in the day as KS Bharat was seen doing glovework.
After the match, Saha took to his social media to share a post on his today’s contribution. “Success is not in what you have, but who you are. Glad to contribute to the Team’s cause,” he wrote on Twitter.
Success is not in what you have, but who you are. Glad to contribute to the Team’s cause. @BCCI #IndVsNZ #TeamIndia #India pic.twitter.com/J1XydEyFng
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) November 28, 2021
Coming back to the match, Shreyas Iyer’s 65 and Wriddhiman Saha’s 61 helped India set a 284-run target for Kane Williamson’s New Zealand in the 1st Test in Kanpur. Ajinkya Rahane called Saha & Patel back on 234/7 with just 20 minutes left on Day 4. At stumps, Ashwin sent Will Young back as NZ closed the day at 4/1.
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