Lockdown Drills: Saha Senior Is Helping His Son With Catching Practice

Wriddhiman Saha has been simply brilliant behind the stumps for team India, especially on home soil.

Photo: Getty Images

New Delhi: The Indian cricket team's veteran cricketer Wriddhiman Saha's father Prashanta is busy performing his parental duties to ensure that his nation's top-ranked wicket-keeper batsman hand-eye co-ordination remains top-notch.

Saha, who lost his place in Indian test squad due to a shoulder injury, made a remarkable comeback. The 32-year-old has been simply brilliant behind the stumps for team India, especially on home soil.

"Whatever drills possible in the confines of my apartment, I am doing that. So I do a lot of hand-eye coordination drills which are a must for keepers. At times, I am throwing a softball against the wall and catching to get the feel," Wriddhiman told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

"At times, my father (Prashanta Saha) is helping me inside the flat," he said.

Is there enough space to manoeuvre and catch? Luckily for Saha, there is.

"Yes, I can move sideways and catch."

Asked if this forced break feels like the time he nursed a shoulder surgery in 2018-19, Saha said that it's better than that phase.

"That time (post surgery), I couldn't keep for months because of surgery but here if I want I can do my keeping drills.

"Look, it's not that I am not in touch. It's not that you get completely out of touch during lockdown. Yes, running is the thing that I am not able to do because of lockdown.

"So that's a wait. Now inside our apartment complex, they are allowing us to walk in evenings."

Last month, Saha had shared a 45-second video of his drills on his Twitter handle.

"Thank You @coach_rsridhar for the nomination. Here are some of my wicketkeeping drills which I am practicing from home," Saha said in his tweet.

Thank You @coach_rsridhar for the nomination. Here are some of my wicketkeeping drills which I am practicing from home. @BCCI pic.twitter.com/uq75tET0Hb

— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) May 11, 2020

Saha believes he wouldn't individually want to put a time-frame on his match-readiness.

"Bowlers, pacers in particular yes, they would need time proper running, hitting the lengths, getting the pace up there, it takes time. Batsmen won't take that much time. I can't say you can put a timeline as such," the 35-year-old, who has played 37 Tests, said.

"Like there could be players, who might be match-ready after four sessions or may be take a few more. As far as I am concerned, I don't think timelines work for me to be specific," he said.

So after hiatus, what is more difficult gathering 140kmph deliveries that wobble at you or keeping up to spinners?

"Depends on the mindset," he says.

"It's not necessary that keeping up to spinners will be difficult. May be, it can happen that very first day of a match, I find that I am in rhythm while gathering deliveries."

Since India's next Test series is in December (vs Australia), Saha will be looking for some game time in domestic cricket and IPL.

"If I get matches well and good but all depends on the situation at that time. You still don't know whether travelling is safe or not. I guess everything will be taken into account before the start of the camp."