Ahead of the India-South Africa first Test, Virat Kohli has made his choice of wicketkeeper between Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant
Visakhapatnam: Ahead of the first Test against South Africa, India captain Virat Kohli made a big announcement when it comes to who will keep wickets for the team in the three-match rubber.
India and South Africa will play for Gandhi-Mandela Trophy from tomorrow (October 2) in Visakhapatnam.
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On the eve of the first Test, Kohli said Wriddhiman Saha will take the big gloves from young Rishabh Pant. In the recent Test series in the West Indies, Pant was preferred over Saha.
The 34-year-old Saha was sidelined due to a shoulder injury last year. He underwent surgery. After he regained full fitness, he played domestic matches for Bengal and also featured in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
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Saha last played a Test for India in January 2018 against South Africa. He missed England, Australia and West Indies tours and also a home series against the Caribbean side in October last year. He returned to Test squad for the tour of West Indies in August this year but did not get to play both the Tests as Pant was included in the Playing XI.
Now, Kohli has said Saha will keep wickets for India in the Test rubber against South Africa.
"Saha is fit and fine to go. He is going to start for us in the series. His keeping credentials are there for everyone to see. He has played for us whenever he has gotten the chance. According to me, he is the best keeper in the world. In these conditions, what he has done for us in the past, he will definitely start for us," Kohli told reporters.
"We thought Rishabh did well in whatever opportunities that were provided to him. It was fair to give Rishabh the due opportunities, we felt Saha was coming back from injury so we eased him in. It is important to understand when to bring in a player and when to give him time," he added.
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