Sai Sudharsan, the young Indian batter, is facing scrutiny regarding his performance in the recent Test series, specifically concerning the number three position in the Indian Test team. Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel has voiced his opinion that Sudharsan appears to be feeling the pressure of securing his place in the team.
In the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Sudharsan was dismissed for just 7 runs. This subpar performance has added to the concerns about his consistency and temperament at the crucial number three spot.
Patel observed that Sudharsan looked tentative during his brief innings. He usually uses his feet well, especially against left-arm spinners, but he appeared hesitant. Patel believes Sudharsan is feeling the pressure to score big runs and solidify his position in the team. He needs to stay calm and play his natural game.
Sudharsan's Test career has had a somewhat rocky start. In his seven innings, he has managed to score only 147 runs at an average of 21, with just one half-century to his name. He began his Test career with a duck in England but followed it up with a half-century (61) in Manchester. However, he has struggled to maintain consistency, leading to criticism.
During his recent innings, Sudharsan seemed indecisive with his footwork while facing spinners. He was eventually dismissed leg before wicket (lbw) while attempting to pull a full delivery from Roston Chase. Furthermore, in the series opener against the West Indies, it was observed that Sudharsan had a brainfade moment before getting out, which nearly cost KL Rahul's wicket. He also got dismissed while playing a bizarre shot, misjudging the length of an off-spinner and going for a pull shot, only to be struck on the back leg.
Despite the concerns, the selectors have shown confidence in Sudharsan by including him in the squad for the West Indies series. With Virat Kohli's absence, India needs a reliable batter at number three, and Sudharsan has the potential to step up.
Looking ahead to the West Indies series, if Sudharsan can carry his form and maintain stability, he can ease the pressure on the senior batters. However, he needs to overcome the pressure and perform consistently to cement his place in the Indian Test team.
In the same match, India concluded Day 1 in a dominant position, with Mohammed Siraj (4/40) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/42) bowling out the West Indies for just 162. India ended the day at 121/2 in reply, trailing by 41 runs in the first innings, with KL Rahul striking an incredible half-century (53*). The India Test squad includes Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Axar Patel and N. Jagadeesan.
