'Legacy Of Number 3': Fans React As Cheteshwar Pujara Hands Sai Sudharsan Test Cap
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Fans couldn't stop the comparisons and 'baton transfer' feelings as Cheteshwar Pujara handed Sai Sudharsan his debut India cap before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley.
Former India number three Cheteshwar Pujara handed Tamil Nadu batter Sai Sudharsan his debut India cap before the first match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley in Leeds on Friday (June 20). He becomes Test number 317 and likely the new batter for the crucial one-down position.
Fans on social media found it quite a wholesome moment, a passing of the baton of sorts. Pujara made his debut in 2010 as a middle-order batter but was asked to take up the number three spot permanently when Rahul Dravid retired. Pujara has not retired yet, but has been out of favor of the Test side since the World Test Championship final in 2023.
Initially, Shubman Gill took over the number three position. Though he scored some runs there, he never looked quite at ease technically. After his appointment as the captain and Virat Kohli's retirement, he has decided to drop to number four, and will bat there starting from the Headingley Test.
Fans on social media found Sudharsan as more of a natural fit and the team's gesture to ask Pujara — who's there as a pundit — to hand over the cap also enhanced that feeling.
One user reacted: 'From one No.3 to another… 🫡 Pujara gives the Test cap to Sai Sudharsan. A beautiful passing of the torch moment at No.3. 🥹❤️"
Another said: 'From the monk of No. 3 to the apprentice Pujara handing the cap to Sai Sudharsan isn't just a gesture, it's a handover of discipline, grit, and quiet defiance. A new chapter begins where the old one stood tall. 🙌"
Cheteshwar Pujara hands the Test Cap over to Sai Sudharsan 🥹❤️Legacy of No 3…..!!! #SaiSudarshan #Pujara #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/aMCZrVMFBW
— Dipanjan Chatterjee (@I_am_DipCh) June 20, 2025
As expected, Sai Sudharsan has been handed a Test cap. He's impressed everyone who has watched him. Handed the cap by Cheteshwar Pujara. Sort of a passing of the baton, even though Che would believe he's far from done. #ENGvIND — Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) June 20, 2025
India's former No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara handed India's new No.3 Sai Sudharsan the Test cap. 🥹❤️That's what you call the exact HANDOVER 🤝 #ENGvIND #ENGvsIND #INDvsENGTest pic.twitter.com/YpMuQJ9RFJ
— Suman18 (@king__sumanx) June 20, 2025
Pujara ne Sai Sudharsan ko di apni pehli Test cap…!! 🥹No.3 ka asli legacy pass ho gaya aaj…❤️From the Wall 2.0 to the next Gen! #INDvENG #SaiSudharsan — Sourabh Kumar (@iamsourabh1818) June 20, 2025
Sudharsan has the experience of 29 First-Class matches with 1957 runs at an average of 39.93.
First Published:
June 20, 2025, 16:09 IST
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