Why Is Sai Sudharsan Struggling In Test Cricket? ‘Probably Feeling A Bit…’ | Cricket News

Indian vs West Indies, 1st Test: Top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan is struggling to find his feet as India’s new No. 3 in Test cricket as he recorded another low score. Sudharsan mustered 7 runs before being trapped LBW by Roston Chase on the opening day of the first Test between India and West Indies that got underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

It was the seventh innings of Sudharsan’s Test career that kicked off with a four-ball duck in England earlier this year. Since debut, thrice he has scored 30 or more and once crossed 50. He’s averaging 21 after seven innings which is in sharp contrast to his overall first-class average of 40.43.

Sudharsan looked in good touch in the lead up to the Windies series, hitting a century and two half-centuries during the Unofficial Test series between India A and Australia A recently. So why is he struggling at the international level?

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel, who has seen Sudharsan from close quarters thanks to his coaching role with IPL franchise Gujarat Titans, feels that the young batter seems to be battling pressure to make the no. 3 spot his own.

“Sai Sudharsan looked a bit tentative today (Thursday),” Patel said on Star Sports. He usually uses his feet really well, especially against left-arm spinners.”

“With left-handed batters, we know that as soon as a left-arm spinner comes in, we try to rotate the strike and wait for the right ball to go after. But I thought Sai Sudharsan was probably feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure that number three position. He just needs to stay calm,” he added.

While announcing the India Test squad for the West Indies series, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that the team management wants to give Sudharsan a long rope to settle into the role which earlier belonged to the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid.

“It’s a little bit about continuity. I think there were a few changes at No. 3 (in England), because of the combination that we played. So that just depends on what the captain and the coach at that point want, and what balance they want,” Agarkar told reporters.

“But as far as going forward is concerned, Sai has shown a lot of promise. We know he’s a very good player. Hopefully, we can give him a longish run from now on, at a particular number. Hopefully, going forward, we can give these guys time to actually build their careers,” he added.