It was a historic moment in the annals
of cricket in north Bengal, when wicket-keeper Wriddhiman
Saha of Saktigarh in Siliguri paired up with Australian all-rounder
David Hussey to put on a world record sixth wicket stand of
104 runs in Twenty20 cricket, in the match between Kolkata
Knight Riders’ against Kings XI Punjab before a packed
PCA Stadium in Mohali last evening.
For the first time in the history of the game in India, a
boy from the north-east created a world record in cricket.
Saha's parents, Mr Prasanta Saha and Mrs Maitrayee Saha, his
coach, Mr Jayanta Bhowmick and all members of his club ~ Agragamee
Sangha, where Papali, as Wriddhiman is affectionately called,
received his first training, were ecstatic. “It is a
dream come true,” smiled Papali's parents.
“Papali has done us extremely proud, but we would have
been happier if he could win the match for his team,”
was their response to Wriddhiman's unbeaten 32-ball knock
of 59.Mr Saha, who is a former sports person, said Papali's
IPL experience had improved him as a cricketer.
Mr Bhowmick said the former Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly
had spoken about Wriddhiman, when he was in Siliguri a few
months back. “The Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper
had told me that Papali had all the makings of a great cricketer,”
he said.
The aspiring cricketers like 14-year-old Mithilesh Das, were
hooked to the TV on Saturday. “Papali-da has proved
to us that with talent, determination and proper training,
we too can carve out a niche for ourselves in international
cricket,” Mithilesh said.
Papali, who produced a sensational 104 off 55 balls along
with Hussey, which was instrumental in bringing down Punjab's
margin of victory, said he was overwhelmed by the encouragement
he received from the top international cricketers during the
tournament. The 23-year-old wicket-keeper, who caught the
eye with an unbeaten 59 off 32 balls, studded with four sixes
and two fours, resurrected the Knight Riders innings along
with Hussey from a hopeless 50 for 5 at the end of 10 overs,
and raised hopes of an improbable victory before the skyrocketing
asking rate caught them up.
With the Knight Riders desperate to bounce back, Wriddhiman
(bright one) could be the star for north Bengal in IPL.
Courtesy: The Statesman |
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