Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha said on Saturday he was given “some sort of an assurance” on his future with Team India by the “highest powers” in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after his unbeaten 61 in the Kanpur Test against New Zealand last November.

Yet, in South Africa, after the conclusion of the Test series, Saha said he was told by the team management that they are “keen to move on” and had been looking for someone new.

Saha has been left out of the squad for the two-Test series versus Sri Lanka. On February 6, Saha said, he had been told by chief selector Chetan Sharma that he wouldn’t be required.

“After that 61 not out, I got a text message from the highest powers in the Board, giving me some sort of an assurance regarding my future with Team India. After such a text message, I never expected that I would be told after the very next series that my days with the Indian team are over,” Saha told The Telegraph on Saturday evening.

“Nonetheless, I’ve never questioned selection or the selection process. They did what they felt was good.

“Now, everyone may have a feeling that I’m someone who won’t come up with any response as such to whatever is done with me, be it including me in the team or chopping me off as per convenience. I’m not throwing any challenge to anyone, but I couldn’t say this earlier because of team protocols,” he added.

“After that innings versus New Zealand, Rahulbhai (head coach Dravid) considered me for my experience. Otherwise, I may not even have gone to South Africa,” he said.

“The team management, though, was a little hesitant when they told me about their keenness to move on. I was told, ‘Don’t be shocked if you don’t see yourself for the Sri Lanka series, and if you wish to take any decision (related to retirement) from hereon, it’s your choice.’ The decision to omit me must have been a collective one. The team management could not have conveyed such a message to me without discussing it with the Board officials,” Saha said.