We Work Hard In Practice Sessions, Share Good Understanding: Saha On Relation With Pant

They might be fierce rivals when it comes to competing for the sole wicket-keeping slot in India's Test team, but that has not affected the relationship between Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant as they help each other on perfecting their glove-work. Saha was out of the Indian team for 20 months due to a shoulder surgery but he is now back to his best as a keeper with some stunning catches in the recently concluded second Test against South Africa in Pune. Six days short of his 35th birthday, the athletic and agile Saha is often seen helping Pant with keeping drills after his own training, something that has been directed by the team managed. Ask him if he is mentoring Pant and the ever-reticent Saha replied in negative. "There's nothing (mentoring) like that. We just discuss normally the way the wicketkeepers discuss. With Sridhar and Pant, we three jointly decide on how to go about our wicketkeeping on a particular type of wicket," he said. The co-ordination and rapport between them helps it easier for them to work together.

"We always observe each other's wicket-keeping. We work hard in our practice sessions and have a good understanding and co-ordination among ourselves. We always try to point out each other's mistakes. It's been going well so far," he said.

Saha, was in fact seen minutely observing Virat Kohli bat, standing behind the skipper at the nets. "I was just trying to have a feel of the bounce off the wicket. So I stood behind Kohli. It definitely helps." While his keeping has been rated as the best in world cricket, even BCCI president-elect Sourav Ganguly has spoken about the need to improve on his batting averages.