Wriddhiman Saha chooses Tripura for 2022-23 domestic season

India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has signed as player-cum-mentor of domestic team Tripura for the 2022-23 domestic season, thereby officially ending a first-class stint of almost 15 years with Bengal. Saha signed on the dotted lines in Agartala on Friday, and is likely to be named captain.

Saha had been in talks with Tripura for over a month. Things were formalised once he was handed a no-objection certificate by the Cricket Association of Bengal late last month. Saha had asked for his NOC after being hurt by comments by a senior administrator before the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the Tripura Cricket Association was keen to formalise Saha's position since it's more than likely he will be available for the entire duration of the domestic season. He is set to take part in a series of camps in the build-up to the upcoming season, which is likely to start in September.

Saha is unlikely to figure in India's scheme of things going forward, after being communicated of the team management's stance earlier this year. Saha last played a Test in November 2021 against New Zealand.

Saha, 37, has played 122 first-class matches, scoring 6423 runs at an average of 41.98. So far, he has hit 13 centuries and 38 half-centuries. This includes the 1354 Test runs in 40 matches at an average of 29.41.

Despite the axe, Saha has expressed his keenness to continue playing all forms of cricket. In the IPL, he is currently with 2022 champions Gujarat Titans, for whom he made 317 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 132.32.

Last season, Tripura made the knockouts of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, by topping their group, and narrowly missed out on making it to the knockouts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s. They managed all of one point in three matches at the Ranji Trophy.