Sai Sudharsan No.3 Afghanistan became a big talking point after India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed the young batter will bat at number three in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The match will begin on Saturday in New Chandigarh. Gambhir said Sai Sudharsan deserves a longer chance in the Indian Test team.
Gambhir said Sai has not received a fair opportunity in Test cricket. He also praised the left-handed batter for his strong IPL season where he scored around 700 runs. According to Gambhir, judging a player after only a few matches is not right. He believes players need time to settle and perform well.
The number three batting position has been unstable for India since Cheteshwar Pujara left the team. Many players have tried the role, including Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, and Devdutt Padikkal. However, no batter has fixed the spot permanently. Sai Sudharsan No.3 Afghanistan now gives the youngster another important opportunity.
Shubman Gill earlier played at number three before moving to number four after becoming India’s Test captain. India’s recent home series defeat against South Africa also raised questions about the batting order.
Sai Sudharsan has played six Test matches so far and averages slightly above 27. Even though his recent scores were low, Gambhir showed confidence in him. The coach also said India still believes it can win the World Test Championship because the team has enough talent and hunger.
The Afghanistan Test will now be an important chance for Sai Sudharsan to prove himself in red-ball cricket.
