He has registered low scores in all three innings.
India batter Sai Sudharsan has continued to disappoint in the ongoing unofficial Test series between India A and South Africa A. The incumbent No.3 has registered a string of low scores across three innings to raise concerns ahead of the Test rubber.
In the first innings of the second India A Test, Sudharsan could only score 17 runs in 52 balls, including three boundaries, before losing his wicket in the 17th over. Initially, he looked comfortable at the crease and was largely untroubled, but the pitch had enough for bowlers, and his spin issues came to the fore again.
The southpaw often goes on the back foot even to fuller deliveries, an issue that was also highlighted by India’s batting coach, which makes him an LBW candidate. His fresh dismissal was also via LBW, as Sudharsan failed to judge the length and was trapped in front by the spinner, Prenelan Subrayen.
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His scores in the ongoing South Africa A series read: 32, 12, & 17 across three innings, which won’t help him as he looks to seal that No.3 spot in India’s Test side. Sai Sudharsan has been touted as a big thing across formats, but his overall red-ball career needs major improvement as of now.
Despite repeated failures, Sai Sudharsan might continue at No.3 in the upcoming South Africa series at home, as India look to settle with one player. Overall, he has 273 runs at an average of 30.33 in nine innings, including two fifties, at this position.
During the West Indies series, Sudharsan played a quality knock of 87, but his returns have overall been underwhelming early in his career. However, this is still an early phase, and the team understands his skills, which are good enough to give him an extended run at a tricky position.
That said, Devdutt Padikkal is surely putting him under pressure with his constant performances. He has been highly consistent and scored runs almost every time in the domestic arena this year, so keeping him out for too long will be tough for the management.
Padikkal has hardly put a foot wrong in red-ball cricket lately, and his technique is tailor-made for home conditions, where spinners dominate the proceedings. For now, Sai Sudharsan might hold his spot, but another mediocre home series will surely force them to rethink their decision.
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