Vaibhav AroraEven before the start of a long and arduous series against South Africa, there was some bad news for Team India as ‘The Wall’ Rahul Dravid, and dashing middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh were ruled out because of injuries.
While Dravid was advised a rest of at least 3 weeks due to a broken jaw, after he was hit on the helmet by a well directed bouncer from Shahadat Hossain during the second Test against Bangladesh, Yuvraj Singh was out with injury to his left wrist and could not even bat in the Mirpur Test.
But, as they say, what is one’s loss turns out to be another one’s gain. When the selectors announced the team for the first Test against South Africa that starts on February 6th, they included two new names in the 15-member squad. The names were that of Bengal middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and Karnataka pace bowler Abhimanyu Mithun.
Wriddhiman Saha25-year old Wriddhiman Prasanta Saha was born on 24th October 1984 in Siliguri, West Bengal and played for Bengal Under-19 and Under-22 teams before being drafted into the Ranji Trophy one-day side in the 2006/07 season. Playing against Assam, he could not do much and did not even get a chance to bat.
Saha’s big break came in the 2007/08 Ranji season when he made it into the team as a result of regular wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta opting to play for the Indian Cricket League. Saha made the most of the opportunity and scored 111 not out against Hyderabad, thus becoming just the 15th Bengal player in history to score a hundred on Ranji Trophy debut. The innings was imperative in him being picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders team for the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
Though, there were already two wicketkeepers in the squad in New Zealander Brendon McCullum and Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Taibu, Saha got ample opportunities to showcase his talent in the slam-bang tournament. Of the 10 innings in 12 games he played during the championship, he managed a half-century.
A major reason for Saha’s selection in the squad is that he would be able to chip in if Dhoni, who also has some fitness issues, were to have a sudden problem.
"Dhoni had a few niggles during the Bangladesh tour and had even missed the first Test. Even in the ODIs he had a few problems with his fitness, so we have included Wriddhiman Saha as a back up. If in the morning of the match, Dhoni is unavailable, we will have Saha as a replacement," selection committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth said.
Abhimanyu Mithun20-year old Abhimanyu Mithun made his first-class debut in November 2009 against Uttar Pradesh and has played just 9 first-class games till date.
The first match for the youngster proved to be a path breaker as he picked up 11 wickets in the game (6 in the first and 5 in the second) including a hat-trick in the second innings. He has so far taken 47 wickets in 9 first-class games at an average of 23.23.
Mithun was also picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for the second season of the Indian Premier League in 2009. Playing against Mumbai Indians at Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 10th May 2009, Mithun had a forgettable debut as he was smashed for 42 runs in 4 overs and did not get a chance to bat in the game.
"He has done extremely well in the domestic season and we really needed a fast bowler for the Tests, so we have included him," Srikkanth said.
Zeecric.com wishes both these youngsters all the good luck for their future.
