With Rishabh Pant rested, the upcoming two-Test series versus New Zealand could mark Wriddhiman Saha’s comeback in India’s playing XI after almost a year.

The second ’keeper-batsman for this series being KS Bharat, who’s yet to play at the international level, Saha appears to be Team India’s preferred choice in the home Tests against the Black Caps.

The joys of Saha’s comeback, though, could be short-lived as Pant will most likely be back for the tour of South Africa, beginning with the first Test in Johannesburg on December 17.

Since the embarrassing 36 all out versus Australia at Adelaide Oval last year, which was also Saha’s last Test appearance, Pant’s performances earned him the status of India’s first-choice ’keeper-batsman in all their 12 Test matches thereafter.

Age, too, is not on Saha’s side. He’s already 37. However, he prefers focusing on the present instead of clogging his mind over matters not in his control.

“You can represent your country only till a certain period of time. Instead of thinking about that, it’s always better to think of the present and focus on it. That’s how I always look at it, always. Pore ki hobe ba ki korbo ekhon theke bhebe laabh nei (At this moment, there’s no point thinking what will happen later or what I’m going to do in future),” Saha told The Telegraph ahead of departing for Mumbai, where India’s Test squad will be assembling for a three-day camp at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground. The camp begins on Monday.

“We can hone our skills for a few days in the camp before getting into quarantine ahead of the first Test in Kanpur,” Saha said.

What keeps Saha going is staying positive irrespective of the situation. Before Mahendra Singh Dhoni quit Tests, Saha had to warm the benches as a second wicketkeeper-batsman for a considerable period of time. Then a spate of injuries in 2018, along with Pant capitalising on the chances he got since the Melbourne Test last year, has gone on to force Saha on the reserve bench once again.

However, Saha prefers to keep focusing on the positive side of things. “Obviously, it feels good to be back in the XI. But being a part of the squad too is an experie nce that’s fair enough.

“In the recent times, I wasn’t getting a chance, but now that it’s set to come, I’ll try to do my best and if I can contribute to the team’s cause, then it’s even better,” he said.

Motivating himself during these 11 months since the D-N Test in Adelaide hasn’t been a problem at all for Saha. “Since childhood, whether any opportunity came or not, I’ve never compromised in terms of my preparation.

“So whether I’m playing a Test match or any game for my club, my level of preparation has always remained the same. And that stays even when I’m not playing at all because I know I need to keep myself ready, especially as an opportunity or two could come any time. You never know.

“So I just followed the same process even during these last 11 months. Now that the situation is such, I may play since Rishabh isn’t there, I may get selected and if I do get a chance, I’m confident of doing well,” he explained.

The IPL didn’t go too well for Saha in what was a forgettable campaign for Sunrisers Hyderabad. But he has been able to have some much-needed game time, donning Bengal colours in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, before going into the Test series. Saha aggregated 73 runs in four innings with Bengal reaching the quarter finals.