WTC Final: Ishan Kishan over Wriddhiman Saha indicates India choosing Age over Class

India have included Ishan Kishan for the WTC Final next month against Australia as a replacement for KL Rahul, who injured his thigh during IPL and will now undergo surgery.

BCCI released a statement on Monday (May 8) confirming Kishan's inclusion in the squad, who will now be on the voyage with the team for the WTC crown against the mighty Aussies. The match starts from June 7 at the Oval in London.

Kishan's inclusion has already polarized the netizens. One section has hailed the bold decision by the selectors, while the other has taken apart them for not including a 'slightly' more experienced Wriddhiman Saha.

Wriddhiman Saha's name came to prominence after Rahu's injury. With Rishabh Pant already out, India now have KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan in the team as wicketkeepers. Kishan hasn't played a Test for India, while Bharat made his debut in the Border Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.

WTC Final: Ishan Kishan replaces injured KL Rahul in the India Squad, 3 players added as standby

BCCI chose Ishan Kishan over Wriddhiman Saha - The Reasons

Well, the biggest reason is the Age. India have adopted a strict policy of youth in recent years, and probably the higher arithmetic of Wridddhiman Saha's age doesn't qualify him for the team anymore.

The veteran was reportedly said to pack his India hopes by Rahul Dravid, but the IPL has seen that even at the age of 38, Saha is as agile and as fit as a teenager. But selectors have opted to go with Kishan simply for his age, or some ambiguous reason only they know.

Age over Class

This is the talk of many pundits at the moment. In the past week or so, many cricket experts raised their vocals in support of Saha, especially after seeing his brilliant catch while Gujarat Titans' match against Delhi Capitals.

A 38-year-old flung to his right and took a catch to stun the world, and his grab would make any wicketkeeper at his peak proud. But BCCI selectors have administered their stern dose of youth's exuberance at the expense of class.

Wriddhiman could have been a pivotal player for India in the WTC Final. Given the conditions in England, Saha would have been the perfect person behind the stumps. But it's up to Bharat or Kishan now, and it is to be seen if they can handle the cauldron.

What it Means for Wriddhiman Saha

This latest selection doesn't bode well for the Siliguri-born Bengali player. Saha is a stalwart of domestic cricket and has served India with utmost pride, but probably this is the last nail in his international career.

With a new Test cycle coming, and players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul in contention soon, Saha will have to take the hard decision now. He has represented India in 40 Tests, scoring 1353 runs, which includes 3 Centuries and 6 Fifties.

The player last played for India in December 2021 against New Zealand, and perhaps that was the last time he donned the whites of India. It won't come as a surprise if the soft-spoken Bengali takes an official call on his retirement in the coming weeks.