
Sai Sudharsan, and finding a way at No.3
Even relaxing the rule to just away from home, and not outside Asia, the last time an India No.3 made a half-century was in December 2022, again by Pujara, against Bangladesh in Chattogram. Six months after that, India played in the WTC final 2023, and Pujara hasn't played for India since then.
From the giant shoes of Rahul Dravid, to the industrious and productive Pujara, India had a great deal of solidity - and most importantly runs - at No.3. Ever since Pujara's downturn in form and subsequent omission from the squads, it's been a barren period. That is why Sudharsan's runs at No.3 seemed important beyond the match situation and series scoreline.
He came in after a solid opening stand, at 94 for 1, but that quickly became 140 for 3 in the second session, as England's bowlers found greater discipline. Sudharsan standing firm at his end meant India could weather that storm.
On debut in the first Test of the series, Sudharsan was out caught down the legside in both innings. England had clearly spotted that his head could fall over to the offside, and the resulting lack of balance could be exploited by balls bowled past leg-stump. It's not a line of attack he's going to face in white-ball cricket where the rules for wides are a lot more strict, but he faced a healthy amount of it against England. And he had a slice of luck too, when one such ball from Ben Stokes was edged behind, only for Jamie Smith to shell the catch.
'The England team are trying to do it quite often to a lot of batters,' Sudharsan said after the first day's play in Manchester. 'Probably even the other side (offside) as well, They give a half-volley wide outside just to make us drive, or down the leg just to make us play something different.
'Yes, I was a bit aware coming into this game, so it actually helped.'
The thing to remember with that line of attack is, while it can result in a dismissal, it also offers Sudharsan the opportunity to pluck off runs. While his alignement can go awry at times, most top-level batters will score off deliveries bowled down leg too. And although it may not be possible to do it mid-series, the technical issue is one that can be sorted.
Sudharsan eventually did fall to Stokes again, making it three dismissals out of three in Test cricket to the same bowler, but not before he had made 61 runs. Of equal importance was the fact that he had faced 151 balls. Again for the first time away from home since Pujara in December 2022, and outside Asia for the first time since Pujara in England in August 2021. Along the way, Sudharsan was tested by Stokes in particular. The England captain has been his side's best bowler in the series, and he was constantly at the batters.
It was a contest Sudharsan relished. 'It was actually a really enjoyable experience," he said. "Because the best bowler in the country is steaming in, trying to hit you hard and you are batting there and giving your best for the team. That's one of the best feelings you can have. And of course playing against England on their home soil, definitely, you have to be ready for that aggressive nature. So I enjoyed it very well.'
Stokes finally got his man with a short ball aimed at the body, as Sudharsan couldn't keep his pull down and was caught at fine leg. The batter later said that ball had bounced more than expected, which had happened a few times from the Pavilion End, where Stokes got him.
But until his dismissal, Sudharsan showed the grit, nous and class to withstand whatever England threw at him, and find a way to score runs. It's that hunger for runs and the aptitude to find solutions to what the bowlers plan for him that could stand Sudharsan in good stead.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


United News of India
32 minutes ago
- United News of India
Nair anchors as India recover to 204/6
London, July 31 (UNI) On a rain-affected opening day of the fifth Test at The Oval, India battled early setbacks, questionable decisions, and unpredictable English bowling to reach 204 for 6 in 64 overs by stumps. Karun Nair's unbeaten 52 and B Sai Sudharsan's composed 38 stood out in an innings defined as much by grit as by missed opportunities and weather interruptions. Sent into bat first, India made a cautious start under overcast skies. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early, trapped lbw by Gus Atkinson after a successful DRS review overturned umpire Ahsan Raza's original call. K L Rahul (14) and Sudharsan stitched a modest stand before Chris Woakes struck with a delivery that Rahul chopped onto his stumps. The dismissal left India wobbling at 38/2. Shubman Gill looked elegant during his short stay, stroking four boundaries including a polished cover drive and a controlled pull. But a terrible mix-up led to his dismissal for 21 via a direct hit from Atkinson, with Sudharsan stranded mid-pitch trying to halt his captain's risky run. Sudharsan played confidently, unfurling drives and cuts with authority. He reached 38 with six well-timed boundaries before falling to Josh Tongue, who produced a sharp delivery that squared him up and induced an edge behind to Jamie Smith. At 122 for 5, India were in trouble again. The recovery was orchestrated by Karun Nair, who returned to Test cricket with a steely knock. Though not always fluent, he soaked up pressure and found boundaries at key intervals: a crisp drive off Tongue, a flick through square leg off Overton, and a full toss punished through cover point. Dhruv Jurel added 19 before falling to a brute of a delivery from Atkinson, which leapt off a length and took the edge, brilliantly caught by Harry Brook at second slip. England had earlier wasted a review on Jurel, misjudging an outswinger that missed leg stump. Nair, meanwhile, survived a scare when England's review for lbw was turned down with the ball clearly missing leg. Washington Sundar played an ideal support role, adding 19 not out with a handful of handy boundaries, including a fine glance off Atkinson's no-ball and a wristy flick through mid-wicket off Tongue. The highlight of the day came in the 62nd over when Nair brought up a crucial 50, clipping Jacob Bethell for two behind square. The modest raise of the bat spoke of a man aware of the innings' importance, not just for India but for his own red-ball future. His 52 came off 89 balls, including seven boundaries. India ended the day at 204 for 6, with a 50-run partnership between Nair and Sundar proving vital. England's bowlers, especially Atkinson and Tongue (with 2 wickets each), kept India under pressure with occasional brilliance, despite leaking 30 extras in just 64 overs. Rain dominated large chunks of the day, restricting play and leaving the outfield slow, but India's steady approach and resistance ensured they didn't completely falter. *** Weather: Rain delays restricted play to 64 overs India will look to build beyond 300 on Day 2, while England will be eyeing early inroads with the second new ball just six overs away. UNI BDN SS
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
10 hours ago
- First Post
‘3 Test series defeats in a row would be a problem for him': Gambhir warned as India face another series loss
India face a must-win clash in the final Test against England at The Oval, trailing 2-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. After back-to-back series losses, pressure has mounted on head coach Gautam Gambhir as questions grow over India's decline in Test cricket. read more Gautam Gambhir has lost 7 out of 11 Test matches he has coached so far. Image: PTI India have shown plenty of fight in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but the results haven't reflected their efforts. Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, the team found itself in strong positions in nearly every match, only to let the advantage slip away. They are now 2-1 down in the series and are looking to win the fifth Test to save face. If India lose the final Test at The Oval, it will mark their third straight Test series defeat, something that is likely to raise questions about Gautam Gambhir's role as head coach. Gambhir took over as India's head coach after Rahul Dravid stepped down following the T20 World Cup win in June last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this year, India suffered a 3-1 loss in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which knocked them out of the World Test Championship (WTC) final race. Before that, they were stunned at home by New Zealand, who beat them 3-0 in a clean sweep. Both results shocked fans, especially the one at home, as India are known to dominate on their own turf and never lost a Test series to the Kiwis. Gautam Gambhir warned about future if India lose series Now, with England leading the current series, pressure is mounting again. Former England captain Mike Atherton has weighed in on the situation and said Gambhir could be in serious trouble if India lose at The Oval. 'Well, they've lost two series in a row. They lost at home to New Zealand 3-0, and they lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1. If they lose this series, then yeah, he's under pressure as a coach,' Atherton said on Sky Sports. 'India, with all their resources, their population strength, they're not a team that people are patient with. They're expected to win every time they walk onto the park. So three Test series defeats in a row would be a problem for him,' he added. Meanwhile, Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with The Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis ahead of the fifth Test. The incident caught everyone's attention as it is very rare that a coach gets into a fight with ground staff. The Indian team management blamed Fortis, saying that he misbehaved with members of coaching staff. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD


Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 5th Test: Unplayable! Josh Tongue puts India in trouble with twin strikes
Josh Tongue celebrates with his captain Ollie Pope after dismissing Ravindra Jadeja during Day One of the 5th Test vs India at The Oval (Photo by) Josh Tongue turned the tide in England's favour with two sharp wickets on a rain-hit Day 1 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, putting India on the back foot in their must-win encounter. After India lost skipper Shubman Gill to a run-out, the visitors were looking to rebuild through Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja. But Tongue had other ideas. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! First, he got rid of the gritty Sudharsan in the 36th over, who had settled in after scoring 38 off 108 balls. Tongue delivered a sensational ball that angled in and then nipped away late, squaring Sudharsan up completely. The left-hander edged it straight to Jamie Smith behind the stumps, walking off immediately after the nick. It was a high-quality delivery - one that would have troubled even the most seasoned batters. Then came an even more awkward ball for Jadeja in the 40th over. Trying to hang in and build a partnership, the all-rounder was undone by a short-of-length delivery that kicked off the surface and moved away. Jadeja was caught in an uncomfortable position as he tried to defend on the move, and the outside edge once again flew to Smith. The veteran batter, who put up a marathon stand with Washington Sundar in the 4th Test could only manage 9 runs in 13 balls. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover Effortless Glucose Monitoring: Request a Free Trial Dexcom Click Here Undo In a spell where Tongue had been inconsistent, these two deliveries stood out for their quality and impact. Both Sudharsan and Jadeja were key to India's plans of putting up a strong first-innings total, and their dismissals have left the visitors in a pickle. Poll What was more painful for India: losing Sudharsan or Jadeja? Losing Sudharsan Losing Jadeja Both equally As things stand, India trail 2-1 in the series and need a win to draw level. But with wickets like these falling at crucial moments, their task only gets tougher. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!