Wriddhiman Saha Announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has officially announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned nearly two decades. Saha shared the news via a social media post on Sunday (November), revealing that the ongoing Ranji Trophy season would be his last. Known for his exceptional wicketkeeping skills and steady presence with the bat, Saha has been a prominent figure in Indian cricket, especially in the Test arena.

A Distinguished Career in Test Cricket

Wriddhiman Saha made a name for himself as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Test cricket following the retirement of the legendary MS Dhoni. Over the course of his career, Saha represented India in 40 Test matches and 9 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).

• Test Record: In Tests, Saha scored a total of 1,353 runs, including three centuries.
• Wicketkeeping Prowess: Known as one of the finest wicketkeepers globally, he ranks second among Indian keepers with the most centuries in Test cricket, trailing only behind MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant (who hold the joint first position).

Saha’s consistency, especially behind the stumps, earned him accolades from cricketing experts worldwide. Many regard him as one of the best glovemen the game has seen, known for his agility and sharp reflexes.

The Decision to Retire

In his announcement, Saha disclosed that he had been contemplating retirement for a while and felt that the time had finally come. The veteran cricketer turned 40 last month, and although he continued to play at a high level, the wear and tear of a demanding career were apparent. Saha’s last appearance in a Test match came three years ago in 2021, against New Zealand. Despite his efforts in that series, the new team management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, chose to move forward with KS Bharat as Rishabh Pant’s backup, signaling an end to Saha’s role in the national setup.

Journey in Domestic Cricket: From Bengal to Tripura

Wriddhiman Saha’s domestic career began in 2007 when he made his First-Class debut for Bengal. Over 15 years, Saha established himself as a reliable presence in Bengal’s lineup. However, his journey with Bengal cricket took a turn in 2022 when a disagreement with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials led to his departure from the team.

The dispute stemmed from comments by a senior CAB official, who questioned Saha’s commitment to Bengal cricket after he chose to opt out of the group stage of the Ranji Trophy for personal reasons. Saha reportedly felt disrespected, and despite efforts from coach Arun Lal to mediate, he distanced himself from the team, even exiting the Bengal team’s WhatsApp group. Former CAB chief Avishek Dalmiya tried to convince Saha to stay, but Saha ultimately decided to represent Tripura instead.

In Tripura, Saha took on the dual role of player-mentor, guiding the team to respectable performances in various domestic tournaments. His mentorship was highly valued, and he contributed both on and off the field, helping to raise the level of the team.

Summary of the News

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has officially announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned nearly two decades.
Records	Test Cricket Achievements Played 40 Test matches for India, scoring 1,353 runs at an average of 29.41. Registered 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries in Test cricket. Inflicted 92 catches and 12 stumpings behind the stumps. Became India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests following MS Dhoni’s retirement in 2015. Ranks third for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests, behind Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. Last appeared in international cricket in a Test match against New Zealand in 2021. Indian Premier League (IPL) Journey Played in every IPL season since its inception in 2008. Represented multiple franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans. Was not retained by Gujarat Titans for the upcoming IPL season and has not registered for the mega auction. Key IPL Milestones First player to score a century in an IPL final: Scored 115 runs for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 final, though his team lost. Only other player to score a century in an IPL final is Shane Watson, who scored for Chennai Super Kings in 2018. In the 2023 IPL final, scored 54 off 39 balls for Gujarat Titans against Chennai Super Kings, becoming the oldest batter (at 38 years and 217 days) to score a half-century in an IPL final. Only player to achieve 50+ scores for two different teams in IPL finals. Record as a Wicketkeeper in IPL One of the only three wicketkeepers to achieve over 100 dismissals in IPL. Recorded 113 dismissals in IPL, with 87 catches and 26 stumpings. Only Dinesh Karthik (174) and MS Dhoni (190) are ahead of him in total IPL dismissals. IPL and T20 Career Stats Played 170 IPL matches, scoring 2,934 runs at an average of 24.25. Maintained a strike rate of 127.57 with 13 fifties and 1 century. Overall in T20 cricket, scored 4,655 runs in 255 matches at an average of 24.24, with 2 centuries and 24 fifties. T20 wicketkeeping stats include 142 catches and 39 stumpings. First-Class and List A Career Played 138 First-Class matches, scoring 7,013 runs at an average of 41.74, with 14 centuries and 43 half-centuries. Contributed with 336 catches and 38 stumpings. In List A cricket, scored 3,072 runs from 116 matches at an average of 40.42, with 3 centuries and 20 half-centuries. Recorded 138 catches and 18 stumpings in List A. Played 9 ODIs for India, scoring 41 runs at an average of 13.66.