Forgotten everything that happened in the past: Saha on coming back to Bengal

India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha shifted his base to Tripura before the 2022-23 domestic season following a tiff with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), but the 39-year-old is now back in the Bengal set-up and doesn’t want to look into the past. Saha will play for Bengal in the upcoming domestic season and said he would also not mind taking up the coaching role in the future.

"I don't think of the past or the future, but only stay in the present. And on that note, currently, all I am thinking about is about playing for Bengal. I have forgotten everything that happened in the past. But I am open to helping Bengal in any capacity possible. Since I am a cricketer, I would be better off helping Bengal in coaching instead of any administrative role,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Saha as saying.

Saha played the last of his 40 Tests in December 2021 but has been a regular member of the Gujarat Titans set-up in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The wicketkeeper-batter made it clear that is has no plans of retirement as of now but would try to manage his workload.

"I am not looking at retiring at the moment. When I retire, I will leave all forms and all formats of cricket, but right now, I am focused on red-ball cricket, white-ball cricket, and the IPL, and I'm available for everything. I will be managing my workload with one eye on my age, but I still have the drive to play cricket and see Bengal do well."

Along with Saha, Sudip Chatterjee has also moved back to Bengal from Tripura. Bengal now have two frontline wicketkeepers in their squad - Saha and Abishek Porel. "Even before I left Bengal, I was grooming Abishek from the sidelines, and that will continue. I have been seeing his growth from his young days, and have been having conversations with him. I am sure the management will also aim to give Abishek all the opportunities possible."

Last season, Bengal failed to qualify for the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy. They made it through to the quarter-finals of the List A Vijay Hazare Trophy but couldn’t go further. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, Bengal lost to Assam in the preliminary quarter-final.

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.