Rain Can't Stop Sai Sudharsan From Shadow Batting Ahead Of 4th Test
Sai Sudharsan practices batting in the rain at Old Trafford ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester.
Sai Sudharsan was spotted going through the motions of batting at the crease even as rain poured down at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.
India trail England 1-2, ahead of the fourth Test of the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
As India gears up for the crucial Test in Manchester, all attention will be on captain Shubman Gill and his reliance on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah's ability to turn games with short, sharp spells could be pivotal. With Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy out due to injuries, India is likely to bring back B. Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, while Prasidh Krishna or uncapped sensation Anshul Kamboj might be considered as the third seamer. Kamboj made headlines last Ranji season by taking all ten wickets in an innings. The conditions may also favour seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur over off-spinner Washington Sundar.
India's batting unit blends youth, determination, and current form. Yashasvi Jaiswal remains consistent, KL Rahul returns to open, and Gill leads the side from No. 4. However, Rishabh Pant's form is under scrutiny. After a costly mistake at Lord's and a courageous, injury-hit knock, the wicketkeeper-batter has had time to recover, but his fitness and mindset remain uncertain heading into the Test.
India has previously come back from 0-2 deficits—in 1974-75 and 1977-78—but lost both deciders. This Test offers a chance to change history. England, on the other hand, knows they've only once failed to convert a 2-0 lead into a series win—back in 1936–37 when Don Bradman led a remarkable comeback.
Ben Stokes returns fresh after a brief break and leads a battle-hardened England side. Jofra Archer impressed with genuine pace despite limited game time over the past four years. With Shoaib Bashir sidelined by injury, Liam Dawson returns to the Test fold after eight years, buoyed by strong domestic form—three ten-wicket hauls and 12 five-fors since 2021.
Zak Crawley continues to evolve; once a fearless stroke-maker, he now shows discipline, though his average is dipping. Joe Root, ever-reliable, is nearing Ricky Ponting's all-time run tally, needing just 120 more to become the second-highest run-getter in Test history.
The Manchester pitch promises bounce and pace, but early showers on days one and two could impact proceedings.
Location :
Manchester
First Published:
July 22, 2025, 23:05 IST
News cricket Watch | Rain Can't Stop Sai Sudharsan From Shadow Batting Ahead Of 4th Test
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Indian Express
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Day 1, Old Trafford: How Rishabh Pant's toe injury gave England a leg in the door
As Rishabh Pant sat on the golf-cart turned ambulance with a swollen right foot, a question loomed over Old Trafford, along with the dark clouds. How will India tread through the final hour of play on Day 1? The score at that point was 213/3, the honours were even. But with the most consistent Indian batsman on the tour gone, England captain Ben Stokes saw this as an opportunity to get his leg in the door. He did very soon. Six overs later the last of India's specialist, Sai Sudharsan pulled a short ball from Stokes into the hands of fine-leg. The cat and mouse contest for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy continues. India had a foot ahead till Pant was hit flush on his right toe by England's hero of the day Chris Woakes. At stumps, India would finish at 264/4. On crease were the two all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur. Both were on 19, both looking comfortable against the tired England attack. This was a hard day's work for both the batsmen and bowlers. Once again the most-repeated 'end of the day' summation on this series—the first hour tomorrow would be crucial—echoed around the storied ground. This game too has the opening of a gripping drama. The pitch is no sleeping beauty, this is no batting paradise, the spinners are getting turn, pacers the bounce. The 'Theatre of Dreams', the home of footballers that has the same name, is round the corner. But cricket's Old Trafford too might throw up a game of gravitas. On the very first day, a fairytale almost unfolded. Sudharsan getting into the playing XI here wasn't a popular decision. Experts have believed that he shouldn't have replaced Karun Nair, who should have been given one more game. But those in the know say that it was captain Shubman Gill who backed Sudharsan. No one has seen India's new No.3 as closely as Shubman. They are opening partners at Gujarat Titans. The two have spent long hours on the field and months together during the IPL. Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, it also can generate awe. Once during the IPL, Shubman had spoken about Sudharsan's special talent. 'It's easy to swing freely on good cement wickets, but real skill lies in reading conditions, assessing the situation.' The coaches at GT also talk about the potential of the star batsman who plays even IPL like Tests. Assistant coach Nadeem Amin, talking to this paper about Shubman, had diverted the topic towards the other GT opener. That was during the Lord's Test. 'He may be out now but look out for the boy, his appetite for runs is as much as Shubman. Just wait till he gets a game.' So when he got the game, the initiation was relatively easy. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal had put on 94 runs and the English pace bowlers had lost the first hour to India. Sudharsan too looked like he was going to make this opportunity count. 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Rishabh Pant rushed to Manchester hospital for scans; Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill worried, but if he can stand...
India's worst nightmare may just have come true. Rishabh Pant, one of their in-form batters, could be ruled out of the ongoing fourth Test against England in Manchester, let alone the series. Pant was driven off the field in an ambulance after a yorker from Chris Woakes struck him flush on the right toe. Pant immediately started limping, but the extent of the injury became clear when the physios rushed to the ground and checked on him. As Pant took his foot out of the shoes, it had a small cut with blood pouring out. More concerningly, the part of the foot had a decent amount of swelling. Rishabh Pant was in immense pain, unable to stand(PTI) Every time the physio touched the bruised area, Pant screamed in agony. He could be seen constantly urging the physio to stop; such was the pain he was in. Pant could not even get back to his feet – he was helped by Akash Deep and one of the physios. Eventually, it required an ambulance to wheel him off the ground. This was the second time in two matches that Pant copped an injury. However, going by the expressions on Pant's face as he was being carried off, you knew this was a lot more serious than his nail chipping accident at Lord's. The latest from the Old Trafford cricket stadium is that Pant has been rushed to a nearby hospital for scans, and necessary measures will be taken as soon as the reports come in. Sai Sudharsan, who anchored India's innings with a maiden Test fifty, addressed the PC and delivered not great news. "Oh, he was in a lot of pain, and he's now at the hospital taking scans. We'll know about the update probably soon. If he's not coming back in this match, it's obviously a blow, but the other batters are also ready to do their part," he said, confirming it's not looking too bright for the India wicketkeeper. The mood inside the dressing room is tense as well. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill are worried – and rightly so – but amid all the gloom, there is some positive development. BCCI issues official statement on Rishabh Pant's injury "Rishabh Pant was hit on his right foot while batting on Day 1 of the Manchester Test. He was taken for scans from the stadium. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress," the BCCI said in an official statement. The team management believes that if Pant can stand, there is a good chance he will come and bat at some point. Swellings are never a good sign. Often, they indicate a fracture; even a hairline crack is enough to cause insurmountable pain and end Pant's tour. But if it's not, not all is lost. What happens to India's chances if this is it for Rishabh Pant? Still, in the worst-case scenario, if this indeed is the last we see of Pant in the series, it affects India's chances terribly. Already down 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Pant getting ruled out is no less than a body blow for India. With Pant out, India will technically resume their innings on 264/5, with just Washington Sundar as the last recognised batter to come. Remember, this isn't a concussion, so there's no way Dhruv Jurel can bat for him. Yes, he can keep wicket coming in as a substitute, but at the same time, substitutes can only field, not bat or bowl. Pant's injury is not what India needed. They are already dealing with multiple injuries, with Akash Deep ruled out due to a groin strain and Arshdeep Singh ailing a cut finger. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has already been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury. And adding Pant to this list only diminishes their chances of staging a come-from-behind victory. Pant is the second-highest run-scorer in the series (462) behind his captain Gill. He scored twin centuries in the series opener at Leeds, becoming the first and only Indian keeper to do so, and smashed a couple of half-centuries each at Edgbaston and Lord's. Even in Manchester, Pant came to bat when India had lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill in quick succession and put on a fifty-plus partnership with Sudharsan, playing out a tricky little period after tea. He was on 37 off 48 balls, having struck two fours and a six, before he attempted a reverse scoop, only to miss it as the ball hit his toe.
