Wriddhiman Saha has never really been too elaborative with his views and opinions. He likes to keep his replies short and simple. But when it comes to the issue of who should be India’s next Test captain, the wicketkeeper-batsman is quite expressive about what he wants to say.
Rohit Sharma, at present India’s full-time limited-overs skipper, is most likely to take up the Test captaincy as well. Though Rohit has had an impressive record as captain, leading in Test cricket will be a different challenge altogether for him, Saha feels.
“I don’t quite remember if I’ve ever played in Rohit’s captaincy. Now, unless he starts captaining in Tests, it’s difficult to say how he’s going to deal with it. Leading in an ODI or a T20 game is completely different as compared to doing so in a Test.
“Besides, we still don’t know if Rohit has been finalised for the task,” Saha told The Telegraph.
However, the kind of person Rohit is, it should benefit the team if he is appointed captain for the Test format as well, Saha believes. “It should be good for the team, given Rohit’s nature.
“He’s free with everyone and mingles with one and all. Not that Virat (Kohli) doesn’t, but everyone’s nature and character aren’t the same,” Saha said.
India are scheduled to play their next Test versus Sri Lanka from February 25 in Bangalore, which will be the first of a two-match series against the Islanders. That Test would also be Kohli’s 100th.
Talking about Kohli’s decision to step down from the Test skipper’s post, Saha pointed out that for him, it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s move (after the third Test versus Australia in Melbourne back in December 2014) to not just quit captaincy but also retire from the longest format altogether which surprised him more.
“As for what Virat decided, I would only say it’s his personal decision. It may have surprised some, while some may not be too surprised. But what had left me stunned was when MS Dhoni not just gave up the Test captaincy, but also quit the format altogether,” Saha stated.
“Virat has only given up captaincy. It’s not that he has stopped playing. He’ll be continuing to play all three formats. So in that sense, the decision Dhoni had made all of a sudden surprised me much more than the call Virat took,” the 37-year-old added.
Moving over to his non-selection in any of the recent Tests against the Proteas, in spite of a crucial, unbeaten 61 versus New Zealand in the second innings in Kanpur last November, Saha is certainly disappointed. But he has no complaints.
“Obviously, no one would like to miss out on games. But it’s the team management’s decision, which I respect. “And as I’ve said in the past, I’ve never had complaints over selection, be it in the final XI or in the overall squad. If I get an opportunity (in the XI), I’ll try and give it my all,” he said.
