Published: Feb 23, 2017, 04:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 24, 2017, 12:24 AM (IST)
On Day One of the first Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at Pune, India’s wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha showed just why he is the No. 1 choice for the keeper’s slot in the Test team. Saha, out of nowhere, took a stunning catch to get rid of Australian lower-order batsman Steve O’Keefe. The dismissal came literally out of nowhere, as the diving Indian keeper completed a screamer to hand Umesh Yadav his third wicket. The catch was not anticipated by even the Indian captain Virat Kohli as well as Saha’s teammates, let alone the fans and commentators. Expectedly, it earned him rich praise from all quarters.
Umesh was in the middle of a lethal spell, continuing from where he left in the one-off Test against Bangladesh. He had already got rid of David Warner and Matthew Wade by then and along with his teammates’ help, reduced Australia to 7 for 205 in the final session of Day One. In the 82nd over of the day, Umesh bowled a short and wide delivery outside the off stump to O’Keefe, who went after it. This is when Saha came into the picture.
The ball took the outside edge from O’Keefe’s willow and went flying towards the slip region. Just when it appeared it will fly over the area between first slip and Saha, the latter dived full length to his right and took a blinder. There was next to no reaction time and Saha did a brilliant job in holding on to the catch which arguably was the best you would have seen this season.
Watch Saha take the blinder here:
Check out how the Twitterati reacted to it:
#FlyingSaha is what we should call him, remember one he took against South Africa in Delhi #IndvAus #Ripper
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) February 23, 2017
REVEALED! Rare picture of what Saha does in spare time!#INDvAUS #Saha #Wriddhi .@Wriddhipops pic.twitter.com/EvkNjFNAmb
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 23, 2017
Right, here is a great example of a top keeper, Saha, converting a bowler's (Yadav's) skill into a wicket.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 23, 2017
Three wickets for Umesh. One wicket for Saha. That catch was just unbelievable. Haven't seen a better catch in a while. #INDvAUS
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 23, 2017
Umesh Yadav has been brilliant. Top catch that from Saha.Winning a session in India possible,but winning a day very very difficult.#IndvAus
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 23, 2017
Brilliant from Saha. Such catches can lift bowler's effort too & Yadav comes up with a yorker first ball for Lyon. Advantage of toss gone…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/imKhurram12/status/834716879742726145
W.Saha flying for the catch reminds me of Adam Gilchrist. #IndvAus
— Anurag (@ak_8085) February 23, 2017
What the heck was that. #saha
— Honey Sharma (@UglyBrahman) February 23, 2017
Wriddhiman Saha gone way too much right to dismiss O'Keefe. This surely won't please Mamata Banerjee #IndvAus
— Debarati (@Debarati_M) February 23, 2017
Australia, after winning the toss, have put on 256 runs on the board for the loss of 9 wickets on Day One. The pitch in Pune, which is hosting its first Test, earlier made it to social media trends for its slow and dry nature. India, as we write this, are in a commanding position.
