India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has signed as player-cum-mentor of the Tripura team for the 2022-23 domestic season, ending a first-class stint of almost 15 years with Bengal.
The 37-year-old Saha, who on Friday officially signed the contract in the state’s capital, is likely to be named the captain of the side. The veteran was in talks with Tripura for over a month. However, things were formalised once he was handed a no-objection certificate by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) late last month.
Notably, Saha had asked for his NOC after being hurt by comments by a senior administrator before the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the Tripura Cricket Association was keen to have Saha’s since it’s more than likely he will be available for the entire duration of the domestic season. He is set to take part in a series of camps in the build-up to the upcoming season, which is likely to start in September.
The wicket-keeper is unlikely to figure in India’s scheme of things going forward, after being communicated of the team management’s stance earlier this year. He last played a Test in November 2021 against New Zealand.
Saha has played 122 first-class matches, scoring 6423 runs at an average of 41.98. So far, he has hit 13 centuries and 38 half-centuries. This includes the 1354 Test runs in 40 matches at an average of 29.41.
Despite being not in India’s plans, Saha has expressed his keenness to continue playing all forms of cricket. In the IPL, he is currently with 2022 champions Gujarat Titans, for whom he made 317 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 132.32.
Last season, Tripura made the knockouts of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, by topping their group, and narrowly missed out on making it to the knockouts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s. They managed all of one point in three matches at the Ranji Trophy.
