IPL: Remembering two of Wriddhiman Saha's most underrated knocks
Currently the second best wicket-keeper in the country after M.S Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha is best known for his acrobatic and excellent wicket-keeping skills. Though Saha has represented India in only a few games in the shorter format, he is a regular fixture and an important cog in the Test team. His valuable contributions to the willow lower down the order have been of immense help when the top order failed. His overseas Test century vs West Indies in the 2016 season won him many accolades for the grit and determination he showed on a tough pitch.
Let us look at Saha’s two most underrated knocks in IPL, which didn't get the recognition they deserve:
#2 IPL 2014: 54 of 26 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Saha was picked up by Kings XI Punjab in the seventh edition of Indian Premier League. The Punjab side was chasing a stiff target of 206 in their allocated 20 overs but had a shaky start to their innings when Virender Sehwag was dismissed in the very second ball. Saha was promoted up the order to No.3 to counter the testing bowling of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Saha started his innings with a bang, smashing the ball all around the park. He took on the likes of fiery Dale Steyn and Moises Henriques, smashing them all over the ground, particularly the leg side. By the end of the Powerplay (first six overs), the side had reached 86/1 with Saha batting on 52 of 23 balls. He single-handedly killed the back of the chase with some breath-taking stroke play. His bold approach towards Dale Steyn, who registered his worst IPL bowling figures of 4-0-51-0, was a treat to watch.
Saha was dismissed for 54 by the leggie Karn Sharma, not before taking the game away from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kings X1 Punjab went on to win the match with more than an over to spare. For his brilliant batting display, Saha was rightly awarded the Man of the Match.
#1 IPL 2014 Final: 115 of 66 vs Kolkata Knight Riders
On the eve of the finals of IPL 2014, Kings XI Punjab were put in to bat by Kolkata Night Riders. They didn’t have an ideal start losing Virender Sehwag and Captain George Bailey within the power play. Saha walked into bat at 30/2 inside the Power Play. What followed next was an amazing batting display by the wicket-keeper.
He, along with Manan Vohra, stitched together a partnership of 129 runs in just 72 balls. Saha attacked the likes of Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, and Morne Morkel, lofting the spinners for maximums over long off and deep mid-wicket.
Saha scored his maiden century in IPL by hitting a six off Sunil Narine's bowling. He was subdued in his celebrations; this knock would be one to remember for him in his cricketing career.
His side, however, lost the game in a cliffhanger, thanks to a sensational knock by Manish Pandey, who scored a brilliant 94 to help Kolkata win the title. Pandey’s knock overshadowed Saha’s century but it would go down as the most underrated knock in the IPL history.