Kolkata, Returning to his home state Bengal after two years of public fallout, veteran Wriddhiman Saha looked a little emotional on Tuesday and said he "never dwelled on the past and focused on what is hidden in the present".
Saha, who will turn 40 later this year, has agreed to return to his home state after "friendly discussions" with former India captain Sourav Ganguly and his wife Romi.
For starters, Saha will be the marquee player for Rashmi Medinipur Wizards in the Bengal Pro T20 League, starting at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
"I haven't met the CAB officials yet, but I went to the dressing room during practice and the color of the chairs has changed. It looks different," Saha said emotionally during his first media interaction after returning from Tripura to Bengal. .,
"I never looked towards the past; I always lived in the present. I started my journey from here. Now that I am back, I will try my best to get a chance in the Bengal team."
“But at the moment, the focus is on Bengal Pro T20 and helping the team reach the knockouts. Wherever I have played, I have always given more than 100 per cent.,
Saha said he was never 'cut off from Bengal' when he played for Tripura.
"I have always wished the best for Bengal; that's what I said when I left. For me, everything is Bengal - the beginning, the growth, everything happened here. It's not that I want to cut off Bengal just because I have gone." I have signed a contract with Tripura.I had gone there to play Ranji Trophy, after playing I will come back here and talk to friends."
"Whenever I played in Tripura, I always kept an eye on Bengal's scores and how they were performing. I also used to talk to the players. Bengal is performing well. The most important thing is that if If I get a chance in the Bengal team, he said, "I will help them continue their consistency.",
In early 2022, Saha was dropped for the home Test series against Sri Lanka, prompting the quiet Bengal 'keeper to spill the beans.
Saha revealed that after his half-century against New Zealand, then BCCI president Ganguly had assured him of a place in the Indian Test team, but the team management later informed him that he would not be considered for selection and coach Rahul Dravid He was also said to have suggested him to take "retirement".
Citing personal reasons, Saha withdrew from the 2021–22 Ranji season for Bengal, following which Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) joint secretary Debabrata Das questioned his commitment, claiming that the player " Was making all kinds of excuses.
Saha apologized to the official, but the apology was not received and tensions deepened with the player leaving Bengal and joining Tripura after receiving the NOC.
Despite repeated requests by the Avishek Dalmiya-led CAB for his return, Saha never returned.When Saha was asked what made him change his mind, he replied, "I discussed it with Sourav, my wife Romi and it is because of them that I came back here."
Asked what he would like to say to CAB officer Das, Saha said, "I will be with him as always."
Will he captain Bengal in the upcoming season? "I haven't thought too far ahead, as I said I live in the present. First I have to perform well to get selected."
Meanwhile, Saha didn't keep much track of India's progress in the ongoing T20 World Cup, but he termed Rishabh Pant's comeback as "one of the greatest"."This is one of the biggest comebacks in sports. He is doing well, all the best to him."
While Virat Kohli is yet to replicate his IPL success as an opening batsman for Team India, Saha said it is a good move.
On Rinku Singh's absence from the team, he said, "It is the decision of the selectors."
Saha, who will turn 40 later this year, has agreed to return to his home state after "friendly discussions" with former India captain Sourav Ganguly and his wife Romi.
For starters, Saha will be the marquee player for Rashmi Medinipur Wizards in the Bengal Pro T20 League, starting at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
"I haven't met the CAB officials yet, but I went to the dressing room during practice and the color of the chairs has changed. It looks different," Saha said emotionally during his first media interaction after returning from Tripura to Bengal. .,
"I never looked towards the past; I always lived in the present. I started my journey from here. Now that I am back, I will try my best to get a chance in the Bengal team."
“But at the moment, the focus is on Bengal Pro T20 and helping the team reach the knockouts. Wherever I have played, I have always given more than 100 per cent.,
Saha said he was never 'cut off from Bengal' when he played for Tripura.
"I have always wished the best for Bengal; that's what I said when I left. For me, everything is Bengal - the beginning, the growth, everything happened here. It's not that I want to cut off Bengal just because I have gone." I have signed a contract with Tripura.I had gone there to play Ranji Trophy, after playing I will come back here and talk to friends."
"Whenever I played in Tripura, I always kept an eye on Bengal's scores and how they were performing. I also used to talk to the players. Bengal is performing well. The most important thing is that if If I get a chance in the Bengal team, he said, "I will help them continue their consistency.",
In early 2022, Saha was dropped for the home Test series against Sri Lanka, prompting the quiet Bengal 'keeper to spill the beans.
Saha revealed that after his half-century against New Zealand, then BCCI president Ganguly had assured him of a place in the Indian Test team, but the team management later informed him that he would not be considered for selection and coach Rahul Dravid He was also said to have suggested him to take "retirement".
Citing personal reasons, Saha withdrew from the 2021–22 Ranji season for Bengal, following which Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) joint secretary Debabrata Das questioned his commitment, claiming that the player " Was making all kinds of excuses.
Saha apologized to the official, but the apology was not received and tensions deepened with the player leaving Bengal and joining Tripura after receiving the NOC.
Despite repeated requests by the Avishek Dalmiya-led CAB for his return, Saha never returned.When Saha was asked what made him change his mind, he replied, "I discussed it with Sourav, my wife Romi and it is because of them that I came back here."
Asked what he would like to say to CAB officer Das, Saha said, "I will be with him as always."
Will he captain Bengal in the upcoming season? "I haven't thought too far ahead, as I said I live in the present. First I have to perform well to get selected."
Meanwhile, Saha didn't keep much track of India's progress in the ongoing T20 World Cup, but he termed Rishabh Pant's comeback as "one of the greatest"."This is one of the biggest comebacks in sports. He is doing well, all the best to him."
While Virat Kohli is yet to replicate his IPL success as an opening batsman for Team India, Saha said it is a good move.
On Rinku Singh's absence from the team, he said, "It is the decision of the selectors."
