Wriddhiman Saha signs off from all forms of cricket [Source: @Wriddhipops/X.com]
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has hung his boots from competitive cricket, bringing an end to an illustrious career spanning over two decades. For the unaware, the 40-year-old Bengal cricketer took to social media platform X on November 3, 2024 to confirm that the ongoing Ranji Trophy season will be his final on-field appearance.
Saha's retirement has drawn reflections on his remarkable career, as he not only represented India on the international stage but also made invaluable contributions to his state team, Bengal. After playing his final game in the Ranji, Saha penned down an emotional note on social media to address his farewell to the cricketing world.
Saha pens heartfelt farewell note as he bids adieu to cricket
In an emotional note following his announcement, Wriddhiman Saha expressed deep gratitude for the journey that cricket has provided him. He took to social media to post the note. "It has been 28 years since I first stepped onto a cricket field in 1997, and what a journey it has been!" he wrote, acknowledging his achievements and the lessons he learned along the way.
Saha shared how cricket shaped him, teaching resilience through both triumphs and setbacks. Saha thanked his family, friends, and mentors for their unwavering support throughout his career, highlighting his parents, wife Romi, and children as his pillars of strength.
He also expressed immense appreciation for the various cricket organizations that supported him, from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to his domestic associations like the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Special mentions were made for his IPL teams, including KKR, CSK, and GT, for believing in his talent, along with his childhood coach, Jayanta Bhowmick, for guiding him from the very beginning.
Saha misses fairytale ending
In his final match, Wriddhiman Saha’s performance was brief as he was dismissed for a duck, getting out for 0 runs off 7 balls. While the match didn’t offer a fairytale ending, Saha’s career is defined by his achievements and invaluable contributions to Indian cricket.
Saha's Stellar Career
Over the course of his career, Saha played 40 Test matches, amassing 1353 runs from 56 innings, including 3 centuries and 6 fifties, with an average of 29.41. In ODIs, he featured in 9 matches, scoring 41 runs at an average of 13.66.
Saha also made a significant impact in First-Class cricket, where he played 142 matches and scored 7169 runs at an average of 41.43, with 14 centuries to his name. His List A career spanned 116 matches, accumulating 3072 runs at an average of 40.42, while in T20s, he represented various teams across 255 matches, scoring 4655 runs at an average of 24.24.