Wriddhiman Saha: I’ve always believed performance defines a player, not PR
Wriddhiman Saha: I’ve always believed performance defines a player, not PR
Wriddhiman Saha has no regrets. The thought that he could have played more than 40 Tests no longer weighs on him. As he prepares to take the field one final time on Thursday — when Bengal faces Punjab in its last group-stage fixture of the Ranji Trophy— the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter remains in no hurry to make a decision about his future.
“I want to enjoy my retired life for a while, just with my family,” he tells Sportstar with a smile.
Having spent much of his life on the road, the 40-year-old now wants to cherish quality time at home with his wife, Romi, and their two children, Anvi and Anvay. While he remains committed to mentoring young cricketers through his academy, Saha has declined lucrative coaching offers, insisting he wants to be “well-prepared” before taking on such a role.
“Throughout my career, I have believed that if someone wants to take up an assignment, they need to be absolutely ready — both in terms of preparation and mentality — only then can they succeed in that role,” Saha explains. “I’m not ready for that kind of coaching position yet, which is why I turned down an offer to be assistant coach at Kolkata Knight Riders. I’m sure it would have been a fantastic opportunity, but I had to decline because I knew I needed more time before committing to a full-fledged coaching role.”
That’s Saha — meticulous and thoughtful in his decisions. Perhaps that’s why he’s in no rush to pursue commentary or expert analysis either.
For now, he plans to watch more Formula One races, travel the world, and enjoy a much-needed long break. But before all that, Saha wants to end his Bengal career on a winning note. A heavy defeat against Haryana in the previous match has all but ended Bengal’s chances of reaching the knockouts, yet Saha remains determined to finish on a high.
“I have always stepped onto the field with the goal of winning, and this time will be no different. Yes, our chances of qualification are slim, but you cannot approach a game with a defeatist mindset. We will take the field aiming to win and earn some pride,” he says.
Eighteen years ago, when he broke into Bengal’s red-ball side as a young prospect, Saha could not have imagined that he would finish his career with over 10,000 runs in domestic cricket and 1,394 runs in international cricket across formats. In his decade-long international career, he completed more than 100 catches and 13 stumpings across Tests and limited-overs cricket.
Widely regarded as India’s finest wicketkeeper of his era, Saha’s career was often seen as overshadowed by M.S. Dhoni. Just as he cemented his place in the Test side, a long injury layoff sidelined him, opening the door for Rishabh Pant’s rise.
Unlike many cricketers today, Saha has never sought the limelight. At a time when social media and public relations play a key role in shaping a cricketer’s public image, he has remained a low-profile figure, steadfast in his belief that performance speaks louder than PR.
“Throughout my career, I have believed that it is performance that defines a player, not PR,” he says.
Yet, in moments of quiet reflection, Saha does acknowledge a thought that occasionally lingers. “At times, I feel that if I had prioritised myself over the team, my statistics might have looked better. But for me, the team always came first. I could have played fewer matches, but self-promotion was never my thing, and I’m glad I never had to change who I was,” he says with a smile.
From the bylanes of Siliguri to the highest levels of Indian cricket, Saha’s journey has been far from easy. He has endured selection snubs and battled disappointments — all while remaining focused on his game.
“I would have been happier if I had a batting average of 45 or more in international cricket, but it’s okay,” he says.
Many believe a wicketkeeper of his calibre was undervalued as selectors prioritised batting. Saha, however, disagrees.
“Everyone has their own way of looking at things. I have always believed that whoever is in the team should contribute in more than one department. If I’m a keeper, I also need to chip in with the bat — that’s in the best interests of the team. You can’t just focus on one role and expect to stay in the XI,” he asserts.
In 2022, after playing for Bengal for over 15 years, Saha moved to Tripura, hurt by certain comments made by Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials regarding his commitment. However, a long conversation with former India captain Sourav Ganguly last year convinced him to return.
“It was because of Dadi (Ganguly) and my wife that I decided to play this season and retire from Bengal. Otherwise, in 2023 itself, I had made up my mind to call it quits. But Romi and Dadi persuaded me to continue a bit longer,” he reveals.
This season, Saha focused solely on red-ball cricket, skipping the IPL auction after deciding to retire from competitive cricket. Though he hoped for a better return, his 156 runs in seven Ranji Trophy (2024-25) innings so far, have fallen short of his own expectations.
While there have been concerns over Bengal’s talent pipeline, Saha believes the younger players will come good with time and the right support. It remains to be seen whether the CAB ropes him into the State’s cricketing ecosystem — as a coach, mentor, or advisor for its Vision Project.
That said, Saha is content with all that the game has given him. However, there remains one unfulfilled dream. “My wife Romi always wanted me to be part of India’s World Cup squad, but that never happened. It would have been special to play in a World Cup, but some things are beyond one’s control,” he admits.
Throughout his career, Saha has cut out the noise and let his work speak for itself. His farewell game will be no different.
As cricket fans nationwide eagerly await Virat Kohli’s return to Delhi’s Ranji Trophy team after a 12-year hiatus, Wriddhiman Saha will quietly bring the curtain down on his remarkable career at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, marking a poignant farewell to the game.
