Wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha triggered a storm over social media as he revealed messages received over WhatsApp from a journalist, who threatened him following his sacking from the Test squad.
On February 19, Saha made it a point to unveil the remarks made by this journalist via a screengrab he posted on his official Twitter handle. The journalist, whose name is being speculated among the fans, asked Saha for an interview initially and requested him to open up on his Test match sacking.
The 37-year-old has had multiple media interactions over the last couple of days with regards to the turn of events behind his unceremonious ouster from the Test squad. But this journalist told him to choose “whoever can help the most” as he sought a one-on-one conversation with the India cricketer.
But the player refused to be drawn into any such proposal and didn’t take any of the journalist’s calls. This triggered the journalist, and he warned Saha of potential repercussions.
“After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone,”
Saha wrote on Twitter, with the screengrab where the journalist was clearly not being ethical in his approach with the player.
Saha bravely confronted the journalist and leaked his messages on Twitter. Fans came out in his support and even encouraged him to name and shame the person involved. But the experienced cricketer didn’t do so.
The contentious issue came to light on the very day the player probably saw the end of the road as far as his Test career is concerned. Recently, chief selector Chetan Sharma confirmed that Saha has not been retained in the squad for the Test series versus Sri Lanka, starting March 4, and KS Bharat has been drafted in the side as Rishabh Pant’s immediate back-up.
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While Sharma said the door is not closed on Saha, in an interview with Sportstar, the player revealed he was told by the team management in South Africa that he will not be considered for selection henceforth, with the rationale that they are planning to try out younger options.
Inarguably one of the finest keepers to play Test cricket for India, Saha has featured in 40 Tests with 1,353 runs, including three hundreds and six fifties.
