Wriddhiman Saha leaves Bengal to play for Tripura.
Wriddhiman Saha’s departure from Bengal in 2022 stemmed from a reported disagreement with a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official who questioned his commitment. Unhappy with these comments, Wriddhiman Saha opted for a fresh start with Tripura, joining them as a player-mentor. Wriddhiman Saha even had a stellar record while playing for Tripura, having scored 590 runs at an average of 42.14, including five fifties and one centuries.
Their meeting comes two years after Saha had hit out against the Ganguly-led BCCI after he was not picked for the India home Test series against Sri Lanka.
He had revealed private dressing room conversations between him and head coach Rahul Dravid regarding his future that he should “think about retirement”. He had further claimed that Ganguly had assured him a “spot” in the team.
Saha then chose not to play for Bengal as a senior official Debabrata Das had raised questions about his commitments leading to another fallout. Saha even quit Bengal team’s WhatsApp group and went on to join Tripura. The then CAB president Avishek Dalmiya tried to persuade Saha back into Bengal fold but he remained adamant.
Sourav Ganguly Asks Wriddhiman Saha to Play ‘One Last Match’ for Bengal.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has asked aggrieved veteran stumper Wriddhiman Saha to play “one last match” for his home state Bengal before calling it quits, Tripura Cricket Association joint secretary Jayanta Dey said on Monday. The 39-year-old, who joined Tripura after a rift with some Cricket Association of Bengal officials in 2022, met Ganguly here.
However, it appears a bridge has been built. According to sources, Ganguly reportedly encouraged Saha to play at least once for Bengal before retiring. While an official confirmation from Saha is awaited, the Tripura Cricket Association has acknowledged discussions about his return to Bengal.
“All we know so far is that Ganguly has told him (Saha) to play at least one game for Bengal before hanging up his boots. However, he is yet to formally convey to us his decision,” a TCA official said, according to SportsStar.
“Ganguly wants Saha to retire for Bengal, playing at least one last match. Saha told me this. But he’s yet to ask for an NOC (no objection certificate) from Tripura,” Dey told PTI.
“We have recently given NOC to Sudip Chatterjee who is set for a Bengal return, but Saha has not asked for it as of now,” he added.
It remains to be seen if Saha may turn up for Siliguri Strikers in the Bengal Pro T20 franchise league beginning on June 11, even as the players draft for the teams are over.
Saha’s return is a significant boost for Bengal. A Bengal stalwart, Saha has been a vital cog in their batting lineup for years, known for his grit and ability to bail the team out of tough situations. His return coincides with the homecoming of another talented batsman, Sudip Chatterjee, who also played for Tripura briefly before rejoining Bengal.
This influx of experience is crucial for Bengal, which is aiming to improve upon a disappointing last season. The absence of key players like Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep due to national commitments exposed Bengal’s vulnerabilities. The return of Saha and Chatterjee provides much-needed stability and depth to the batting order.