Wriddhiman Saha is a Siliguri-born wicketkeeper-batsman who has represented India in 40 test matches. After MS Dhoni’s retirement from the test team, Saha became the first-choice wicketkeeper of the team and had been an integral part of it till the 2020-21 season. He has 1353 test runs and 3 test centuries under his belt. Here, we will have a look at the top ten test innings by the experienced keeper.
1. 47 Vs West Indies
In the second test of India’s tour of the West Indies at Sabina Park in July, 2016, Saha played a slow knock of 47 runs in 116 balls in India’s first innings. He hit 5 fours and had a strike-rate of just about 40 in that innings. This knock ranks 10th in this list.
2. 54* Vs New Zealand
In the second test of New Zealand’s tour of India in September, 2016, Saha scored an unbeaten knock of 54 runs in front of his home crowd at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He faced just 85 balls and hit 7 boundaries and a couple of sixes as well to reach his half-century. Another half-century from the Bengal keeper in the second innings earned him the Man of the Match award in that match. India won by 178 runs.
3. 56 Vs Srilanka
Another of Saha’s half-centuries came against Srilanka at Colombo in August, 2015. Coming out to bat first, Saha scored this fine knock of 56 runs in 117 balls, hitting 6 boundaries. He had a strike-rate of just about 47 in this innings. His innings late down the order helped India take a lead in the first innings of the match and eventually win the match too.
4. 58* Vs New Zealand
After scoring an important unbeaten half-century in the first innings, Saha scored yet another unbeaten half-century in the second innings too in front of his home crowd at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. His 58-run knock came in 120 balls, and included 6 boundaries. Both these innings proved to be vital as these helped India cruise to victory. Saha was awarded the Man of the Match award for his brilliant batting in both the innings.
5. 60 Vs Srilanka
In the first innings of the first test of India’s tour of Srilanka at Galle in August, 2015, Saha scored another fine knock of 60 runs in 120, having a strike-rate of exactly 50. He hit 6 boundaries and a six as well in this innings of his. His half-century along with Dhawan’s and Virat’s centuries helped India establish a first-innings lead in the match. However, their batting failed miserably in the second innings, allowing the hosts to win the test.
6. 61* Vs New Zealand
In the first test of the series against the Kiwis at the Green Park Stadium, Kanpur in November, 2021, India under the captaincy of Rahane won the toss and decided to field first. After getting out cheaply in the first innings for just a single run, Saha went on to score a half-century in the second innings of the game. He scored an unbeaten 61 in 126 balls, hitting four fours and a huge six as well. The match ended in a draw.
7. 67 Vs Srilanka
Another half-century from the Indian wicket-keeper came against Srilanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo in August, 2015 when the two Asian giants clashed against each other in the second test of the series. Saha faced 134 balls and hit 4 boundaries and a six in his innings, having a strike-rate of exactly 50.
8. 104 Vs West Indies
Wriddhiman Saha’s first test three-figures came against the West Indies at St. Lucia in the third test of the series in August, 2016. Batting first, India were in a state of bother at one point of time after losing five wickets for just 126 runs. It was at this time that Saha walked out in the middle and steadied the ship. He faced 227 balls and hit 13 boundaries as he went on to score a strong and steady knock of 104 runs. His ton, along with Ashwin’s important century helped the visitors cross the 350 mark in their first innings. The visitors eventually won the match by a huge margin of 237 runs.
9. 106* Vs Bangladesh
Saha’s second test century came against neighbours Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad in February, 2017. In the first innings of the match, Saha played an unbeaten knock of 106 in just 155 balls, scoring 7 boundaries and a couple of sixes. He also had a decent strike-rate of around 68. He was amongst the three centurions in the Indian innings, which helped the hosts post a huge total of 687 in their first innings.
10. 117 Vs Australia
The knock which takes the top spot in this list is Saha’s blistering innings of 117 against the mighty Aussies at Ranchi in March, 2017. After Pujara scored a double-hundred, Saha contributed 117 more runs to the board. He faced 233 balls, hitting 8 boundaries and a six and having a strike-rate of just above 50. This was Saha’s third ton in test cricket.
