How a reserve wicket-keeper became the first to hit a century in an IPL final
In short: Wriddhiman Saha spent much of his international career as a backup, yet he carved out a unique legacy in Indian cricket. From a surprise Test debut triggered by a football injury to becoming a record-breaking domestic powerhouse, his journey highlights the resilience required to thrive in the professional game.
Born in Siliguri, Wriddhiman Saha emerged as a prominent wicket-keeper for Bengal before making his Test debut in February 2010. His entry into the international arena was unconventional; he was a reserve player who was thrust into the starting lineup against South Africa after V. V. S. Laxman was injured and Rohit Sharma hurt himself during a warm-up football match. Despite this sudden start, Saha went on to represent India across various tours, including trips to the Caribbean, Australia, and England, eventually becoming the fifth Indian wicket-keeper to reach 100 dismissals in Test cricket by November 2019.
Saha’s impact was perhaps most visible in the Indian Premier League. In 2014, while playing for Kings XI Punjab, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural player to record a century during an IPL final, scoring an unbeaten 115 runs from just 55 balls. His domestic prowess was equally notable; in 2018, he set a record for the fastest century in domestic cricket, reaching 102 runs in only 20 balls. These performances underscored his ability to shift the momentum of a match, whether through his glovework or his aggressive batting style.
Beyond his on-field achievements, Saha’s career was marked by significant challenges, including recurring injuries that occasionally sidelined him during critical series. In 2022, he also navigated a public controversy involving a journalist who had threatened him, leading to a formal investigation by a BCCI committee and a two-year ban for the individual involved. After a long career that spanned various domestic teams and the national squad, Saha concluded his professional journey on February 1, 2025, with a final Ranji Trophy victory for Bengal against Punjab.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Wriddhiman Saha
- Also: Wikidata — Wriddhiman Saha · CC0
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