Team India is in a tight spot right now. Both Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma are (almost officially) unavailable for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test in Perth. Honestly, India haven’t carried many batting options with them as well. While there is Abhimanyu Easwaran, he is simply in the squad as a backup to Rohit’s opening spot. Apart from this, either of KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan will be batting at that number six position. Moreover, both of them even dealt flows while practicing as well.
Sai Sudharsan should be called up to replace Shubman Gill
But there’s good news – we have a perfect replacement ready in Sai Sudharsan. It is just that the BCCI should take a call on adding him into the squad. Sudharsan, alongside other India A players, is already in Australia. And even reports emerged today that he and Devdutt Padikkal might be asked to stay back Down Under as well. Rest of the India A players are scheduled to fly out of Perth around midnight on November 17 but there is a strong possibility of one of the two elegant southpaws staying back.
Sudharsan & his penchant to score runs around the globe
The young Tamil Nadu batter has been in terrific form lately. Just look at his recent performances – a super hundred against Australia A in Mackay shows he can handle Australian conditions well. While some people might say he’s too young or inexperienced, his batting style is perfect for Test cricket. He doesn’t play risky shots and has good technique against both fast and spin bowling. This was not just luck – Sudharsan has been scoring big runs everywhere he has played.
His recent Ranji Trophy double century (213 runs) for Tamil Nadu proves he can play long innings. He didn’t just score runs; he hit 25 fours and one six, showing he can score fast when needed. Before this, he made 82 runs against a strong Saurashtra team. What makes Sudharsan special is that he can score runs in on tracks that aid seam bowling. He went to England and scored a hundred (105) for Surrey county team against Nottinghamshire. In Duleep Trophy, where the country’s best talents play, he made 111 runs for India C against the bowling of Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Shams Mulani.
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Don’t discount Sudharsan’s IPL exploits
IPL 2024 was his big breakthrough. Playing for Gujarat Titans, he scored the most runs for his team – 527 runs including a brilliant century against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He carried this form into Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he scored 123 not out for Lyca Kovai Kings in a must-win clash.
Yes, picking a new player for such a big series is not easy. But sometimes you need to be bold. Gill’s injury and Rohit’s uncertain status have opened a door. Sudharsan has earned his chance through consistent knocks in domestic cricket, county cricket, and A team matches. The Indian team management should look at his recent scores and his calm approach to batting. In Perth, where the pitch will be fast and bouncy, we need someone who can play with patience and skill. Sudharsan has shown he has both these qualities.
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