Saha's first choice is wicketkeeping not batting, says his father

Wriddhiman Saha became the 2nd wicketkeeper-batsman after Gerry Alexander to score two fifties (not out) in a Test.

Mumbai

: Team India's 32-year-old Wriddhiman Saha, who had a batting hand in India's victory and achieving top spot in ICC ranking has "more liking" towards keeping wickets than batting, according to this dad Prasanta Saha.

Speaking from Silliguri, where the parents reside, he said, "Wicketkeeping is his first choice. He loves to be in stumper's gloves than batsman’s."

"Though he had been in Under-13 team as a batsman-wicketkeeper, he loves to keep wickets more."

The parents watched their son grabbing the MoM award on TV.

"All our neighbours congratulated us after India's historic win (250th Test). I can't express the joy and mood in our area," said Saha’s mother Maittreyee.

"Wriddhi's wife Debarati and three year old daughter Anvi were here few days ago. They went to Kolkata and I am sure his wife must be over the moon."

Interestingly, Debarati shares her nickname Romi with Kapil Dev's wife.

The father had heard the name of West Indian Gerry Alexander, who also scored two not out fifties in the same Test 55 years ago, but was unaware that no other wicketkeeper-batsman has equalled this feat.

"I will surely share this information with my son tonight." he promised.

"When he was nearing 50 in the second innings, we had little tension but we were obviously relieved after he touched the magical figure."

"We hope he plays many such innings for India in future," the senior Saha added.

"Saha, since his childhood has been serious, sincere and gradually improving as a wicketkeeper-batsman," said his personal coach Jayantho Bhowmick.

"He is a tremendous fighter and world's best wicketkeeper-batsman. He has improved a lot in the recent past and gradually becoming solid as a batsman too".

"He is a cool minded and well-behaved man," the coach further added.