"Saha is by far the superior keeper," Tom Moody on why he would have picked Saha over Ishan for the WTC Final

Tom Moody shared who he would have picked between Wriddhiman Saha and Ishan Kishan as a replacement for Kl Rahul for the WTC Final.

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Abishek Goswami
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Tom Moody | "Saha is by far the superior keeper," Tom Moody on why he would have picked Saha over Ishan for the WTC Final | Sportz Point

Ishan Kishan has been called as KL Rahul's replacement in India's World Test Championship final squad against Australia. The BCCI announced on Monday. In Rahul's absence due to a thigh injury, Kishan will be slotted in as the second wicket-keeper behind KS Bharat. In the ESPNcricinfo podcast, Tom Moody shared his thoughts when he was asked about Ishan Kishan's selection for the WTC Final against Australia.

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Tom Moody clearly stated his pick between Ishan and Saha for the massive final. Kishan is yet to play a Test for India. He was earlier named in India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad this year. The Wicket-keeper batsman, however, did not get a game. Kishan has featured in 48 First-Class games, scoring 2985 runs at an average of 38.76. The left-hander has accounted for 99 catches and 11 stumping in his FC career. In the ongoing IPL season, Kishan has registered 293 runs in 10 matches, averaging 29.30 with two fifties.

Tom Moody's Reasons to Pick Saha over Ishan Ishan in a Final:

The Present Director of Cricket of Sri Lanka Cricket, Moody said, " From my perspective, the way I look at it, from an outsider looking in, Saha is by far the superior keeper. He brings 15 years of experience. In a Final, whether he is on the playing field or off the field, that's a valuable asset to have."

He added, "I think in England, at that time of the year, when the final is going to be played, we are going to see the Duke ball not behave in favour of the Batsman. I think it's going to be bowler-friendly. I think Ishan Kishan, with the Duke ball, in those conditions, is vulnerable."

"The difference between Saha & and Kishan as a batting option at no 7-8, there won't be a big difference in what the output would be because of that. So in a one-off option, I'd rather have the experience, the better keeper, and would make it very clear to Saha that this is what it is, it is a one-off. We need your depth of experience, and these are the reasons why. And to Ishan Kishan, the same explanation," he concluded.

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