Ravi Shastri backs Sai Sudharsan at no.3 in Test cricket, urges management to give him a long run

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has put his weight behind Sai Sudharsan to deliver the goods while batting at one down in Test cricket for India. Shastri wants the team’s think tank and selectors to give a long run to the left-hander.

Sudharsan made his Test debut against England at Leeds, Headingley but returned with scores of 0 and 30. Subsequently, the left-hander was surprisingly dropped from the final XI.

The Tamil Nadu batter replaced Karun Nair in the fourth Test and scored an impressive knock of 61 runs off 151 balls at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Sudharsan has shown the right technique to savor success at the top level and he will look to continue the good show.

Ravi Shastri said on Sky Sports, “He is the man for your No. 3 slot. Just give him a run. He was very unlucky to be dropped after the first Test because he looked pretty good. He is someone who can stay for a long time. You’ve not seen the best of him because it’s still early days in his career.

“The day he grows in confidence, he can be a terrific No. 3 because he has the counter-attacking game, he has the defence as well, he plays spin well too, and he has a wide range of shots.”

On the other hand, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting highlighted that Sudharsan hits the ball really hard and his strength is to play along the ground.

Ponting said on Sky Sports, “He hits the ball deceptively hard. I was really surprised this year in the IPL. With straight bat shots, down the ground, through midwicket, he hits it deceptively hard. He will grow into that at the Test level. Two games ago, he was in the side, left out, so you can understand that he is going to be a little tentative today, coming out, trying to cement himself back into the lineup. But once he actually does and gets the confidence from his coaches and senior players to go out and back himself and play his natural way, you will see a lot better player.

India ended the opening day’s play at 264-4.