Wriddhiman Saha Breaks MS Dhoni Wicket-Keeping Record In Cape Town Test
The third day of the first Test between India and South Africa at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town was washed out due to persistent rain without a ball being bowled. Despite the loss of an entire day, the match is set for a result with two more days to go.
However, it was a great start for India on Day 4 as the Indian pacers restricted the Proteas for just 130 runs and 207 to win the first Test. India’s wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha enters into the record books after affecting 10 dismissals in the Test.
The Indian pacers were on fire in the morning session as the Proteas batsmen found it tough to handle the magic by Shami and Bumrah as they bowl out South Africa at 130 in the second innings.
Bumrah, who made his debut in this match removed South African skipper Faf du Plessis by a whisker of a delivery. Shami, who was a bit outward to start off in this Test came back stronger to give India a breakthrough at the start.
The Indian bowling was set up nicely and forced the Proteas batsmen to play at deliveries on tight lines, prompting catches behind the wicket. As the likes of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the job done, it was wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha who also had a hand in the dismissals.
Saha, who is currently India’s best wicket-keeper was once again brilliant behind the stumps as affected 10 dismissals in the Test match. It is the highest number of dismissals affected by an Indian wicket-keeper in any Test match.
With that, he overtook Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who previously claimed nine dismissals in a Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2014. The 33-year-old also went past Farokh Engineer’s record of 82 dismissals to become the fifth most successful wicketkeeper of India.
Saha also joined the likes of South African keepers David Richardson and Mark Boucher to complete the most number of dismissals in an India-South Africa Test match.
During South Africa’s first innings total of 286, that saw the Indian fielders put down catches at slips, Saha was involved in five dismissals. However, during the second innings, he failed to contribute with the bat after Dale Steyn dismissed him for a duck.