What next for Saha?

[kirkutfan]

1 hour ago, Vijy said:

but he cannot be a long-term backup keeper. this is why it's better to start identifying younger alternatives who can help pant rest at times - kishan, bharat, KLR (in LOIs), wadkar, etc.

Agree with developing other keepers. But a spot in the side should be based on merit. So, as long as Saha is playing, his age should not be used against him. If he is better than the kids, he stays. 

[SRT100]

7 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

Becoming a spinning all rounder? lol Think about guys like Karun Nair, Thakur and Soon Sundar. They will be watching from the sidelines.  Pant's keeping has improved a lot in this series. So Pant has closed all the doors effectively.

 

I think Pant's keeping was always "good".

I know he has dropped catches and missed stumpings.

 

I genuinely blame the TM for breaking this mans confidence. I think he was always good to be a decent keeper if not for Shastri and Kohli placing doubt in his head.

 

Its no coincidence that once his place was secured in the team his keeping excelled. This should have happened two years ago when Dhoni was on the wayward decline.

[nevada]

5 hours ago, SRT100 said:

 

I think Pant's keeping was always "good".

I know he has dropped catches and missed stumpings.

 

I genuinely blame the TM for breaking this mans confidence. I think he was always good to be a decent keeper if not for Shastri and Kohli placing doubt in his head.

 

Its no coincidence that once his place was secured in the team his keeping excelled. This should have happened two years ago when Dhoni was on the wayward decline.

Dhoni is the main villain in the campaign to derail Pant. Greedy old codger dragged his sorry ass along for 2 years too long for the 2019 WC, and wanted to play the T20 WC too, by getting Pant out of the way 

[RajBan]

Saha will likely go to England as backup wicket keeper.

[kohli]

‘He’s still better than most of the youngsters’: Harbhajan (On Wriddhiman Saha)

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that Team India should stick with Wriddhiman Saha as their second Test keeper after Rishabh Pant and should give him more opportunities over others. Saha last appeared in the pink-ball Test against Australia at Adelaide which India lost by 8 wickets after registering their lowest-ever total in the longest format of the game.

While speaking on Star Sports, Harbhajan was of the opinion that Saha is a 'safe keeper and has very good hands’, adding that the Bengal cricketer has been with Team India for a long time now and is fitter than most of the youngsters.

“It is a difficult choice but if I have to choose, I will stick with Wriddhiman Saha. He has been with the team for a long time. He is a very safe keeper and has very good hands. Rishabh Pant has grown in stature, not only as a batsman but as a keeper as well and will keep improving as he keeps on playing,” Harbhajan said on Star Sports network.

“I feel for some time Wriddhiman Saha will have to be kept along with the team. I agree he is 35 years old but the sort of fitness he has, I feel he is still better than most of the youngsters. It is good that we have quite a few options - we have KL Rahul and the bold Ishan Kishan,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra pointed out that with Pant in the playing XI, India have often been able to field five bowlers. However, that’s not been the case with Saha. Replying to this, Harbhajan suggested that in such a scenario, youngster Ishan Kishan can also be trained as the second keeper.

“If you watch closely, Rishabh provides the balance to the team which allows you to play five bowlers because he is a proper batsman. But when you look towards Wriddhi, the captain is not that confident of playing five bowlers.

“If the thinking is like that, then I feel Ishan Kishan can be a very good choice because he is a strong batsman and a match-winner. He is also a similar kind of player who plays shots and keeps well also,” Harbhajan concluded.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/hes-still-better-than-most-of-the-youngsters-harbhajan-names-india-s-2nd-choice-wicketkeeper-after-rishabh-pant-101615189962994.html

[prudent_kreeda]

Use Saha as back up for a year or so . He will help pant to get better too . 

Post that let him play domestic PLUS he should be one of the guys at NCA for WK mentoring .