Why Saha Is Perfect Replacement For KL Rahul For WTC Final
En route to that blitzkrieg knock, BCCI selectors were requested to name Saha as a replacement for KL Rahul for the World Test Championship final.
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Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Wriddhiman Saha was on fire in the IPL 2023 match against Lucknow Super Giants. While Shubman Gill, the most talked-about batsman in the partnership, struggled to find the gaps in the powerplay, Saha utilized the crease to take down both spinners and pacers, smashing them all over the park for 81 runs off of 43 deliveries. As a result of this blitzkrieg dismissal, BCCI selectors were asked to designate Saha as KL Rahul's replacement in the World Test Championship final.
Saha smashed Mohsin Khan for two consecutive fours in the very first over of the day game, followed by Avesh Khan for a six and a four in the very next over. Eventually, he accumulated six fours and three sixes in the powerplay alone as Gujarat posted their highest IPL total of 78/0 in the first bowling phase. Saha scored 54 runs off of those in only 23 deliveries.
Social media was flooded with requests for the BCCI to designate Saha as the replacement for injured KL Rahul in next month's WTC final against Australia while he was on his way to a 50 off 20 balls. Former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh was among the first to suggest the idea. Here are some more...
Rahul, who sustained an injury while fielding against RCB a few weeks ago, was officially declared out for the remainder of the ongoing IPL 2023 this week. Friday, LSG announced that "further tests and scans have confirmed that Rahul has a significant tendon tear that will require surgery." He has now been ruled out of the WTC final, leaving India with only KS Bharat as a wicketkeeper option.
While BCCI relied on Ajinkya Rahane for the WTC final due to his experience, the selectors may also consider Saha for the same reason, albeit as a backup option. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been in fine form during the IPL 2023, where his 81 off 43 balls on Sunday increased his run total to 273 after 11 innings.
