When the players looked at the Pune pitch on Thursday morning, it was pretty evident that it will turn and bounce very early on the first day of the first Test between Indian and Australia. When Virat Kohli lost the toss and Australia opted to bat, wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha would have expected to be standing up to the stumps a whole lot – wearing his helmet, jumping up and down as the ball turned and spat.
But he came up with the highlight of the day when he was standing back to Umesh Yadav. The Indian pacer, in the middle of a fiery spell, steamed in, delivered a full, fast ball that Stephen O’Keefe slashed at. There was no first slip in place. There was a big gap between Saha and Kohli at second slip.
So Saha, with the ball already flying behind him, threw himself at full length and plucked it out of thin air.
Words can’t really do justice to the catch. Watch the video here:
Saha got a love for the stunner, of course.
Three wickets for Umesh. One wicket for Saha. That catch was just unbelievable. Haven’t seen a better catch in a while. #INDvAUS
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 23, 2017
Superman Saha #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/ggWTjTKsXB
— Anand Katakam (@anandkatakam) February 23, 2017
With that catch, Saha is now officially a superhero.
We can call him Wriddhiman.— Fandromeda (@PlayFandromeda) February 23, 2017
Brilliant from Saha. Such catches can lift bowler’s effort too & Yadav comes up with a yorker first ball for Lyon. Advantage of toss gone…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 23, 2017
Holy crap.
What a catch from Saha.Flew far to the right to take it.Leftists are not pleased.— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) February 23, 2017
Right, here is a great example of a top keeper, Saha, converting a bowler’s (Yadav’s) skill into a wicket.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 23, 2017
But Kohli’s reaction to the catch said it all really.

Well done, Wriddhiman.