The lead proved crucial in Duleep Trophy final: Saha

Calcutta (The Telegraph): Making the most when things are going your way is always advisable in the uncertain world of sports. Perhaps, such a philosophy is also driving Wriddhiman Saha as he has said that he would like to open in one-dayers.

This season, the Bengal player has not only excelled with the wicket-keeping gloves, but has also done splendidly in front of the stumps scoring heavily.

On Tuesday, East Zone humiliated Central by an innings and 20-run in the Duleep Trophy final, in Indore, and Saha, deservingly, walked away with the Man of the Match award. His super innings of 170 was the pillar on which East built their match-winning first innings total of 370.

“After such a performance, what more can I say about the team… We did very well. Everyone gave their best and as always, it was a team effort. Shami (Ahmed) and (Ashok) Dinda were excellent... Getting a big lead was crucial,” Saha said.

On a personal note, Saha’s “opening” comment, in the build up to the upcoming zonal one-dayers for the Vizay Hazare Trophy, is of course significant.

Asked if he has given the possibility of promoting himself up the order a thought, Saha said: “I enjoy opening in the one-dayers… But having said that it certainly isn’t my call… It absolutely depends on the team management to use me wherever they think I would be useful to the team… I don’t mind batting at any position.”

Given the kind of form he is in, it would be an absolutely appropriate — and intelligent — move if Saha gets to open in the Vijay Hazare meet, where Bengal’s first match, against Orissa, is scheduled on Monday.

Also Read: Fletcher’s tips helped me improve my batting, says Saha

When reminded that all his batting success this season has come in the longer format, Saha pointed out that the basics remain the same and so it is not much that he has to do.

“The approach, the basics remain the same… It’s not that I have to adjust in a totally different way while playing the one-dayers. I just keep it simple and do whatever I have been doing all these years,” Saha said.

However, any mention of captaincy and the 27-year-old instantly informs that he enjoys the game more as a player and that is the reason why he has almost always side-stepped the job, first for Bengal, and more recently for East Zone. “It’s not such a big thing… I enjoy participating in the game just as a player. But it doesn’t mean that it’s my permanent status… I may rethink on the matter in future. But at the moment, I like just being a player,” Saha said.

With a jaw-dropping first-class average of 132.00 this season, Saha can afford such a thought.