Fit-again Saha set to return to action after nine months

Bengal will open their campaign against Mizoram in their group D fixture in Cuttack on February 21. Things have changed dramatically for Saha in this nine months with Rishabh Pant establishing his place in the national side

Bengal on Sunday selected a fit-again Wriddhiman Saha in their 15-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 domestic tournament.

The former India Test wicketkeeper batsman, who went under the knife for a shoulder injury, is set to return to action for the first time since May 25 when he last played for his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.

“I’m approaching the tournament as just like returning from a normal break. It’s like the start of the season for me,” Saha said of his comeback.

Bengal will open their campaign against Mizoram in their group D fixture in Cuttack on February 21. Things have changed dramatically for Saha in this nine months with Rishabh Pant establishing his place in the national side.

“I’ve never played cricket thinking about selection. It’s not in my hands. I’m focused on what is in my control and that is my performance. I’m keen to make full use of the opportunities that come my way,” the 34-year-old said. India’s next Test assignment will only be after the World Cup when they visit the West Indies for a two-Test series in July.

Manoj Tiwary will lead the Bengal side with Abhimanyu Easwaran as his deputy. Bengal had last won the title in 2010/11 season.

Bengal are clubbed alongside Mizoram, Karnataka, Assam, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in group D, the matches for which will be held in Cuttack.

Bengal squad: Manoj Tiwary (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vice-captain), Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Vivek Singh, Writtick Chatterjee, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Shahbaz Ahamad, Pradipta Pramanik, Kanishk Seth, Ashok Dinda, Sayan Ghosh, Ishan Porel, Prayas Ray Barman and Ayan Bhattacharjee. PTI TAP SSC SSC SSC SSC