Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showered praise on Sai Sudharsan for scoring an impressive knock of 61 runs on the opening day of the fourth Test match against England. Sudharsan replaced Karun Nair in the playing XI but looked nervous at the start of his innings.
However, the left-hander showed solidarity in knock and completed his maiden Test fifty. Sudharsan was also dropped by England wicket-keeper Jamie Smith when he was on 20, and he was able to capitalise on the second life.
But Ashwin questioned the team’s think tank for backing Karun Nair at number three, as he hasn’t batted at that position in te domestic circuit.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Ashwin said, “Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block. But credit to Sai Sudharsan because it is not easy being a youngster after getting dropped and with India 1-2 behind in the series to come into the fourth Test and respond the way he did. I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future to be able to give a bit of solidity for the team.”
Ashwin said Sai should have completed his century but he was dismissed on a short ball by England captain Ben Stokes.
“We have seen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid bat at No. 3. Sai Sudharsan showed that sort of solidity. He was able to leave the ball; of course, the wicket was a good one, but he negotiated a tough phase. He earned the right to score those runs. I am a bit upset because I am a huge well-wisher of him. He could have scored a hundred. That guy has a big appetite for runs. He just missed out on a well-deserved hundred.”
Meanwhile, Ashwin reckons England bowlers missed a trick as they could have tried to get the ball to swing back into Sudharsan from over the wicket angle.
Ashwin said, “One thing that will give him trouble, especially early on in his innings, is over the stumps, ball coming back in. Shardul Thakur dismissed him in that fashion in a Ranji Trophy final. I just felt England missed a trick. They bowled from around the wicket, but they should have come over the stumps.”
Ashwin lauded Sudharsan for playing an impressive knock while playing only his second Test match.
“What a fine, fine knock for somebody playing in his second Test. I am not kidding you, he got a chance at No. 3 in the first Test, and he was dropped after that. There was no need to drop him. He was your No. 3, technically equipped, very sound mindset, very religious in the way he goes about it,” Ashwin added.
India ended the day’s play at 264-4.
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