Bengaluru: India's specialist Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha said that it is difficult to fill in the void created due to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement from longer version as the former skipper has been such a proven match-winner for a good period of time.
"After Dhoni bhai's retirement, filling his place as the wicketkeeper is not an easy task because he has had won many matches for us. He was a dominant character in world cricket," Saha told reporters after Indian team's training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Saha said that in his own style, he is trying to do what Dhoni did best -- contribute in team's cause.
"I am trying to do what Dhoni bhai did for us - that is to win matches with contributions coming from his bat as well as by taking catching and effecting stumpings in crucial situations," he said.
The 31-year-old said that whenever he gets an opportunity, he speaks to Dhoni to seek his advice.
"We always talk to each other on every possible opportunity I and Dhoni get. We talk to each other as we did in IPL and India's Australia tour. He gave me vital tips on how to keep on bouncy tracks and handle pressure while batting. Not only Dhoni, I also talk to other players as well," he added.
Replying to a query, Saha said he would try to do better with the bat in West Indies tour as his performance wasn't good in the last series.
"The team has done well in the last one year. We have done well in Australia and Sri Lanka, but my individual progress could have been better and would grab the opportunity to come up trumps in West Indies," he stated.
Asked how he plans to cement his place in the team in the absence of Dhoni, Saha said he would try to get some big scores - a good 70-odd consistently to cement his place in the team.
"I will try to make a good 70-odd runs to help the team gain advantage over the opposition. If I am successful it will be good for me and the side," further added.
Replying to another question, Saha said he enjoys batting with lower order batsmen because it helps the side to get some vital runs to put up good total on the scoreboard.
"I like batting with the lower-order because scoring vital runs in crunch situations helps us put up a good total," he said.
Saha said it is indeed a challenge to keep wickets in different conditions and on different tracks because it is a thankless job.
"It is a different challenge for a wicketkeeper to keep in different conditions because it is a thankless job. If I could succeed, it would be good to me and the team," he said.
Saha also said Dhoni always tells him to work on his natural wicketkeeping instincts.
The Bengal lad added that the team would go all-out to win the Test series in West Indies, to complete a hat-trick having won in 2006 and 2011.
"We will go into the series with the combination of Virat and Anil bhai with an intent to win the West Indies series, which we had won last time around when we visited there," he said.
"This time around as well, the team would go all out to play dominating cricket and win the series," he added.
