By: Sandipan Bose
For the first time after MS Dhoni’s retirement since the 2014-15 Australian tour, Wriddhiman Saha has come of age. Playing in front of a home crowd, Saha would have only dreamt about winning a man-of-the-match trophy at the Eden Gardens from the time he started to play serious cricket.
That is why he is right on top of the world. Saha must be particularly happy because is gradually becoming a force both behind and in front of the stumps for India. Firstly with bat, he came to crease just when India needed someone in the lower middle-order to hold the innings together.
Saha did just that by making an unbeaten 54. Again in the second innings, he was not out on 58 before India were all out. At the same time, he was impeccable behind the stumps with some sharp reflexes and sound foot-work. In other words, it was Saha’s Test match in Kolkata.
It’s also true that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was another star performer of the match with six wickets. He also enabled India to take a very crucial first innings lead after a five-wicket haul.
Interestingly, both Bhuvneshwar and Mohammad Shami took six wickets each while the spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, took four wickets apiece. Barring the Indian openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, every in the playing XI contributed to the win.
Even captain Virat Kohli, who wasn’t in the best of form, made some important runs for his team along with Rohit Sharma. In total, this was India’s 11th win at home out of last 13 Tests.
Incredibly, this team is already thinking of a series whitewash. In his place, all eyes would be on Gautam Gambhir to re-create his old magic at the top of the order.
