Former India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has announced his decision to retire from first-class cricket after the end of the ongoing 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. Saha, a veteran of 40 Tests, returned to represent his home state — West Bengal ahead of the ongoing season.
Though Mohammed Shami was a notable omission from India’s squad for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to his ongoing ankle injury recovery, there is a likelihood of him joining the team mid-way after making a return to competitive cricket through last two rounds of the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
Opener Sudip Chatterjee scored a century as Bengal posted 269/7 in their first innings on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
The Ranji Trophy has been split into two phases this time, with the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy sandwiched in between.
Earlier this month, the BCCI announced that those who play 75 percent of India’s Tests in a season will earn Rs 45 lakh per Test, and those who play 50 to 75 percent of Tests will earn Rs 30 lakh. This is in addition to the match fee of Rs 15 lakh
While remaining fit has been a requirement, Unadkat has taken time out to pursue another vocation, which is learning guitar.
Earlier in the day Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara also said that he and his family have contributed to the PM CARES fund.
Pujara was supposed to play county cricket in the UK but that too has been postponed at least till May 28 and faces a cancellation.
In the current Indian setup, Cheteshwar Pujara is the most well-recognised Test match specialist batsman and Jaffer feels that players like him are under-appreciated.
For the uninitiated, the Jaydev Unadkat led the Saurashtra team clinched its maiden Ranji Trophy title after defeating Bengal at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.
