Wriddhiman Saha, India's Wicketkeeper, Retires from Cricket and Opts Out of IPL

Saha's last Test appearance was three years ago in 2021 against New Zealand. Although he played some important innings in the series, the team's new management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, chose to gradually transition Saha out of the team. They placed their faith in KS Bharat as the backup wicketkeeper for Rishabh Pant.

“After a cherished journey in cricket, this season will be my last. I am honoured to represent Bengal one final time, playing only in the Ranji Trophy before I retire,” Saha wrote on X, promising to make his last season for Bengal a memorable one. “Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible ride, your support has meant the world. Let’s make this season one to remember…”

According to a Sportstar report, Saha is unlikely to participate in next year’s IPL as he hasn’t registered for the upcoming mega auction set to take place later this month. Although he has not publicly addressed the matter, sources suggest that an official statement regarding this could be released just before the auction. Saha was not retained by the Gujarat Titans, a franchise he represented for the last three years. Saha one of the very few players who has taken part in every season of IPL since its inception in 2008, having represented five franchises - Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT).

Having made his First-Class debut in 2007, Saha represented Bengal for 15 years before transferring to Tripura after a dispute with certain officials from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The former CAB chief, Avishek Dalmiya, attempted to persuade Saha to stay, but he indicated that he might not continue playing for Bengal.

His frustration stemmed from comments made by a senior CAB official, who questioned Saha’s commitment after he opted out of the group stage of the Ranji Trophy for personal reasons. Despite efforts from coach Arun Lal to discuss the situation, Saha even left the Bengal team’s WhatsApp group.

Last season, Saha, taking on the role of player-mentor, guided Tripura to a respectable performance in domestic tournaments. However, after a conversation with Sourav Ganguly, a former India captain and ex-BCCI president, Saha returned to Bengal this season, hinting that it might be his final one.

Saha had previously stated that he would concentrate solely on red-ball cricket for Bengal and would not participate in white-ball competitions. So far, his return hasn’t been notable, having scored zero runs and made three catches across two matches.