The Indian team’s star wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha, has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. He played his last match for the Bengal team against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy. This match marked the end of his 28-year cricket career, which began in 1997. Saha has played cricket in Test and ODI formats for the Indian team and has an excellent record in domestic cricket.
Saha expressed his gratitude towards cricket, stating that it has been the greatest honor of his life to play for his country, state, district, club, university, college, and school. He credits cricket for his achievements, learned lessons, and invaluable experiences. Saha mentioned that cricket has given him happy moments, unforgettable victories, and has also taught him how to deal with ups and downs.
Saha decided to retire from all formats of cricket, feeling that it is time to start a new chapter in his life. He wants to dedicate himself to his family and friends and cherish the moments he missed out on due to his sports career. His last Test match for the Indian team was against New Zealand in 2021. After MS Dhoni’s retirement in 2014, Saha was a regular member of the team until Rishabh Pant’s arrival. However, he struggled with poor form and could not secure a spot in the team after 2021.
In his last match, Saha was dismissed without scoring a run in the Ranji Trophy match against Punjab. Despite this, his team won by an innings and 13 runs, making the match memorable for him. His colleagues lifted him on their shoulders after the match, and he was given a guard of honor when he came out to bat. Throughout his career, Saha played 40 Test matches for the Indian team, scoring 1353 runs, including three centuries and six half-centuries. He also played 9 ODIs, scoring 41 runs, and participated in 142 First Class and 116 List A matches for Bengal and Tripura in domestic cricket.