Wridhhiman Saha’s top-notch wicketkeeping skills have almost always stolen the spotlight from his batting abilities.

Rishabh Pant was preferred over Saha as the wicketkeeper-batsman when India played Tests in New Zealand earlier this year as the former was considered a better batsman. While that’s very much debatable, it also highlights the point that Saha, the batsman with three Test centuries, is often underestimated.

And it’s not just about Test batting, Saha, backed up by his past record, can also be called a very efficient batsmen in white-ball cricket.

In ODIs, Saha last donned India colours way back in November 2014, not having played any T20I so far in his 10-year international career.

But before this IPL season, Saha had six half-centuries along with that unforgettable 115 not out in the 2014 final in Bangalore. This year, in three appearances as of now for Sunrisers Hyderabad, his 87 and 39 in the last two games versus Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, respectively, were fine batting exhibitions under pressure.

Even experts have been impressed with Saha’s batting skills. While Sachin Tendulkar said that Saha’s batting is underrated, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, one of the greatest in the wicketkeeper-batsman category, also praised him while doing commentary.

According to Deep Dasgupta, Saha’s batting doesn’t get much of a mention since he doesn’t look orthodox.

“Irrespective of who says what, I’ve always felt that Wriddhi’s batting is underrated. Well, if a wicketkeeper has three Test centuries, you can’t say that he is not capable with the bat. Wriddhi doesn’t have that orthodox style of batting, he has his own unique way, that’s the reason his batting doesn’t get highlighted much,” the former India wicketkeeper-batsman told The Telegraph from Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Bengal head coach Arun Lal too agreed. “Yes, Wriddhi’s batting is underrated. We know what he’s capable of.

“He is also aggressive and very good particularly against spin. He can execute the sweep shot to perfection. He can play it to a nicety towards mid-wicket as well as at the fine-leg region,” Lal said.

Both Dasgupta and Lal were of the view that Saha is a far better batsman in T20s if he bats in top four. “Batting up the order is the best place for him. He is an intelligent cricketer and can take good advantage of the Powerplay.

“Wriddhi is not a power-hitter like a Hardik Pandya, so it’s imperative that he bats up the order. He has never relied on power-hitting. He gets going in his own way, which is his plus point,” Dasgupta pointed out.

That said, what has gone against Saha is his age. “Saha has been good in T20s too, but as a replacement for MS (Mahendra Singh Dhoni), we were looking at someone younger. That was the thought process of the previous selection committee and the current panel too is likely to go the same way,” ex-chief selector MSK Prasad said.