25-05-2025
Chennai News
B Sai Sudharsan is India's new hope in the top-order, but the challenges in England Tests will be immense. It's been just five months since
's international retirement, and Tamil Nadu has its next superstar.
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Twenty-three-year-old B Sai Sudharsan, who made his way into the Indian Test squad for the England series, looks well set to take over from the old master, who amazed the world with his off-spin.
At just 17, Sai caught
's eye during a league match, prompting the veteran to gush: "Adengappa, idho paar ra indha paiyana! (Oh my god, look at this boy!)." When Sai made his ODI debut in 2023, Ashwin, who has long been his staunch supporter, said: "Sai can become the next Indian player from Tamil Nadu and a fulcrum in the playing XI."
In Tamil Nadu's cricketing circles, the southpaw's meteoric rise has been hard to miss. The left-hander has weathered his share of twists and tumbles, steadily carving his path forward with quiet resolve. This IPL season, Sai has been nothing short of spectacular — smashing 679 runs from 14 outings to be the frontrunner for the Orange Cap (prize for the IPL top run-getter).
He scored a century and five half-centuries so far for Gujarat Titans, all while maintaining an impressive strike rate of 155.99.
His consistent impact is no flash in the pan — previous IPL campaigns also saw him deliver crucial innings. The foundation of the young man's success is built on discipline. Sai has sporting pedigree coursing through his veins — father Bharadwaj was a 100m sprinter who represented India at the SAF Games in Dhaka, and mother Usha, a former state-level volleyball player.
Sai was never far from discipline and drive, qualities that have shaped his measured climb in the sport.
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Those who have followed his journey closely know that consistency has been his hallmark. Former India cricketer W V Raman, who has watched Sai grow from the start, told TOI if the southpaw gets his fair share of opportunities at the international level, he will do justice to it. "He burst onto the scene with white-ball cricket and quickly proved his consistency there. What's impressive is how swiftly he adapted to the red-ball format as well.
It's been a fantastic journey in a short span, and that ability to learn fast is crucial for any young player. Sai has shown exactly that," said Raman.
Beyond his solid fundamentals, Sai, who has an orthodox approach to batting, has notably expanded his arsenal, particularly enhancing his power-hitting prowess. He now has a deep understanding of his strengths and limitations, which allows him to tailor his strategies to varying match situations.
The fact that Sai played county cricket for Surrey for two seasons should help him settle down well in the series. Raman feels this quick learning curve and willingness to adapt will hold him in good stead on the England tour.
"What he's done is that he's decided to try and ensure that he doesn't get found out by the opposition. So, he's tried to work on a few shots in the breaks that he gets during the seasons. And he's decided on the right kind of shots that will help him when he's under pressure to get runs quickly," said Raman, a former Tamil Nadu captain.
Sai is predominantly seen as a top-order batter, often opening the innings, a role that suits his style and temperament. His ability to face the new ball with confidence and play fast bowlers early is one of his key strengths, which could come in handy for India in the challenging English conditions. "I think he should bat in the top three because he likes to play fast bowlers first up, he likes the ball coming onto the bat.
He'll also make use of the huge gaps that he'll have first up because fast bowlers are prone to bowling with attacking field sets of the new ball. So that will also provide him opportunities to pick up runs."
Fitness, too, has been a cornerstone of Sai's evolution. Raman vouches for it. "He's one of the fittest cricketers. He'll train any hour of the day. He came off a brilliant IPL final, followed it up with a string of 40s and 50s in the TNPL, and then had one failure.
While the rest of the team was boarding the bus after the game, he was training on his own at 11 pm."
Despite all the brilliance in white-ball cricket, Sai's first-class average of 39.93 suggests that his red-ball game is a work in progress. His Ranji Trophy stats aren't stacked with big scores, but he had one standout show this season — a double century against Delhi. Later, during the India A tour to Australia, Sai scored a ton in the first four-day game but didn't have a great outing in the second.
Former TN coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, who worked with Sai during his time here in 2023-24, believes the England tour will be a stern examination for the Chennai lad. "His domestic record is not great. When I was the coach, I saw him play on a seaming track in at least two matches. And he didn't play well there. His technique against the moving ball needs to improve."
Kulkarni, a former Mumbai captain, played in minor counties for 12 years and has a fair understanding of what will be on offer for Sai.
"He has a tendency of playing away from the body while the secret of success in England is to play late and play the ball right under your nose. He has to curb some of his strokes and should play straight and close to the body. He has to work to get the technique right before the tour," said Kulkarni.
The challenge will be immense, and England will come at Sai all guns blazing. It's on the southpaw to soak up the pressure and take the first step towards making a spot in the Indian top-order — which suddenly looks slightly light following Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirement — his own.
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