"Sourav Ganguly and my wife pushed me to play in Bengal this year" - Wriddhiman Saha

Veteran India wicket-keeper batter Wriddhiman Saha has announced that the 2024-25 Ranji season will be his last. On the sidelines of Bengal's match against Karnataka in Bengaluru, he shared that his original plan was to walk away after last season, but then two people asked him to carry on - Sourav Ganguly and his wife.

"I wasn't going to play this year. But Sourav Ganguly and my wife pushed me to play in Bengal this year," Saha said. "I played in Tripura for two years and then came to Bengal, and I am pushing for the last year. But this season, due to my body condition and injuries, I won't be able to play for the full season. So I chose the most vital format. It will still be tough, but I will play."

"I was already prepared that I won't even play this year" - Wriddhiman Saha on his IPL participation

 

However, Saha also confirmed that he is not one of those Indian players to put their name up for the upcoming mega IPL auction, thus ending his 17-year-long association with the league that started way back in 2008. However, Saha also revealed that the decision to bring down the curtains on his long career wasn't difficult at all.

"It was very easy for me. I was already prepared that I won't even play this year. I'd been prepared from last year itself that I wasn't going to play this year, but I've been pushed [to play on]. So I couldn't refuse them [his wife, and Ganguly]. When I started from Bengal last year, I played there again and there was an emotional attachment," Saha said.

 

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Wriddhiman Saha and Sourav Ganguly had a rift previously

Notably, the Siliguri-born cricketer had moved away to play two seasons for Tripura before returning to Bengal this season. Reflecting on his international career, Saha said that he was happy to always be a team player as well. However, Saha's association with Ganguly is not new. They also had a rift over a place in the Test squad previously as well. Reports also suggested that questions were raised if Sourav Ganguly is interfering in selection matters. Wriddhiman Saha's axing from the Indian Test squad for the home series against Sri Lanka made headlines as a shared private WhatsApp conversation revealed that and Saha told the media that Ganguly had "assured him a spot in the Test squad as long as he was BCCI boss".

"I could have played better. But I always thought about the team first. If I played a little for myself, which shouldn't happen, then the stats would have been better.

"But I played 40 Tests. I played on and off. I had injuries. But I came back. I am happy. I represented India for 17 years. I played in the IPL. I played in Bengal. It was all a good experience," Saha said. "There were a lot of innings where we were going to declare. If I hadn't been out for 3-4 overs... my average is around 30 [29.41], but it could have been 35. But I don't look at the stats. I always played for the team. I did the job I was supposed to do. If I was told to go out there and hit, then I've done that. In that process if I get out, I get out. But I played for the team, always," he added.

As far as his most memorable moment in his domestic career is concerned, he also hopes that it will arrive this season in the form of qualification for the finals.

"I've not been a [Ranji] champion. We won T20 and the one-dayers. We won the Duleep Trophy for two years. Those were good moments. But before I leave, if we qualify for the finals, it would be even better," he shared. "If I get an offer from another state or Bengal, I will think about it. If some associations think about it, then [yes]. I have been playing cricket since childhood. I haven't done anything else. I want to share as much knowledge as I have in cricket. I already take training in a few academies in my off-time so that experience [is there]. So if I get a job with the Bengal team or offers from any other state, then I'll consider it."