The Saha way: A keeping guide for India's next generation of glovemen

You can hone a batter out of a wicketkeeper, but the opposite is almost impossible to achieve without making a few concessions. In India howeverwhere the bounce is variable and the degree of turn can range from slow and minimal to sharp and quick standing up to the stumps becomes a different ball game.

- Somshuvra Laha

It demands a longer concentration span and split-second reactive ability while squatting over 500 times a day, staying aware of the close-in fielders and the entire trajectory of the ball even if it doesn't hit the gloves, in case a leg-before appeal needs to be reviewed.

Now, consider doing all this against Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, currently the best spinner duo in the world, on Indian pitches.

"It's a tough job," says Wriddhiman Saha, who has been there and done that in a career spanning 40 Tests, 31 of which came in the subcontinent. "Because bowlers will always want to have someone behind the stumps who can convert even a 50-50 chance into a solid catch. There are edges and catches, so many permutations and combinations when you are keeping wicket in India."

By declaring on Tuesday that either KS Bharat or Dhruv Jurel, and not KL Rahul, will keep wicket against England, head coach Rahul Dravid stuck to the rulebook that in India nothing less than a specialist will work. So, what are the fundamentals of keeping wicket in India?

Saha gives a technical lowdown, with former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta providing added perspective.

Be relaxed and focused

"The more relaxed your body is, the softer are your hands, hence better reaction time," says Saha. "Along with that, the ability to read how much the ball can turn after pitching also matters."

"There's a lot more spin involved in India so don't premeditate too much," Dasgupta cautions. "You have to simplify it in your head."

Anchor the left foot