On the eve of the third and final Test match against South Africa, Wriddhiman Saha said that the wicketkeeping is a "thankless job" contrary to the popular perception that anyone wearing a pair of gloves should catch every ball that comes his way.
India, having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead, will go for a series sweep when they host the Proteas in Ranchi. And Saha, will once again, hope to produce some stunning work behind the wickets.
"It's tough everywhere. Wicketkeeping is a thankless job and people think that he should take all the ball since he's wearing a pair of gloves. It's not easy like that, especially on a track with uneven bounce and turn. We prepare according to the wicket," he said.
Wriddhiman, who is making a comeback to the Indian team after 20 months, was brilliant behind stumps in the Pune Test, where he grabbed a couple of absolute stunners off Umesh Yadav's bowling.
This was apart from his sensational glovework while keeping up to slow bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Asked about the acrobatic take down the leg-side off Umesh Yadav's bowling.
"Everyone wants to contribute to the team. He (Yadav) did very well in the first innings and created a lot of chances. Luckily, I was able to take the chances he created on the leg side. I always think of helping to the team's cause. It always feels good when you contribute to the team's winning cause."
Before the South Africa series, Saha last figured in the Cape Town Test way back in January 2018 and got side-lined after a shoulder injury.
"I was out for a long time because of injury. I got a chance only after performing in the domestic and India A matches. I always continued the same preparation for batting and wicketkeeping and finally got an opportunity. I'm really happy to have contributed to the team," Saha, who made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s earlier this year, said.
The 34-year-old also helping Rishabh Pant in the drills, and denied having any rivalry with the flambouyant wicketkeeper, who has soaked in the limelight as the heir apparent to legendary MS Dhoni.
He even denied playing a mentor's role, saying "there's nothing like that. We just discuss normally the way the wicketkeepers discuss. With Sridhar and Pant, we three jointly decide on how to go about our wicketkeeping on a particular type of wicket," he said.
The co-ordination and rapport between them help it easier for them to work together.
"We always observe each other's wicket-keeping. We work hard in our practice sessions and have a good understanding and co-ordination among ourselves. We always try to point out each other's mistakes. It's been going well so far," he said.
But he accepts it or not, it's a cut-throat competition.
(With PTI inputs)
