New Delhi: Chetan Sharma-led Indian selection committee on Saturday announced squads for T20 and Test series against Sri Lanka. The committee made some big changes to the Test team as they decided to drop four senior players - Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
While making the announcement during the virtual press conference, Chetan Sharma revealed that all four senior players were informed beforehand about them not being considered for Test series against Sri Lanka, and that the selection committee wanted them to perform in Ranji Trophy.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Saha has now made a big revelation while speaking to The Times of India. The veteran player revealed that team India's head coach Rahul Dravid advised him to think about retirement.
"Yes, the team management told me that I would not be considered henceforth. I could not tell this so long as I was part of the India team setup. Even coach Rahul Dravid suggested that I think about taking retirement," Saha told Times of India (TOI).
"When I hit an unbeaten 61 taking a pain-killer in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur last November, Dadi (as Sourav was referred to by Bengal players) congratulated me over Whatsapp. He even mentioned that I should not worry about anything so long as he is at the helm of the BCCI. Such a message from the board president really boosted my confidence. But I failed to understand why everything changed so fast."
Talking about Wriddhiman Saha's international career, he has played Test and ODI cricket for India. He made his international debut for India in Test cricket in 2010 and ODI cricket in the same year. Since then, till the year 2021, he has played 40 Tests and 9 ODIs for national team.