Follow UsDinesh Karthik, who has been on the sidelines of the Indian team, has thrown his weight behind Wriddhiman Saha, who was recently told that he may not be picked in the Indian team again.
After scoring a crucial fifty in the Test series against New Zealand in November, Saha was assured of a place in the future by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, but was not picked for the home series against Sri Lanka following a conversation with head coach Rahul Dravid.
Karthik, who has played, 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is for India says that it is hard to accept when you have been told to move on.
“I'm pretty sure from wherever I've seen with Wriddhiman's interviews, he understands where this decision is coming from. I know no cricketer is going to accept that when you're being told to move on. It is a very hard one because this is what they've been doing day in and day out,” Karthik told ICC.
"All of us want to represent the country and that is the burning desire for everybody. So when somebody comes in says, 'I think your time is done,' it can be a hard one to swallow.
"But it is understandable and you have to understand where the selectors, the coach and the captain are coming from.
“Kudos to Wriddhiman Saha. I think he has been one of those brilliant, quiet servants of Indian cricket who has done so well over a period of years.”
Karthik also likened the emergence of Rishabh Pant to the time his place in the side was taken by MS Dhoni. “Just like MS Dhoni came in all those years ago, we've had a Rishabh Pant who's come in over the last couple of years and has done really well," Karthik, who has scored 1,025 runs at 25, said.
"When that happens, Saha has obviously become the second wicketkeeper and he has been travelling with the team and playing the odd match here and there."
Since making his debut in 2010, Saha has gone on to play 40 Tests for India, scoring 1,353 runs at 29.41. He has also taken 92 catches and inflicted 12 stumpings.