Sai Sudharsan manifested India Test call-up with Dukes ball practice: Alec Stewart

Former England wicket-keeper bat Alec Stewart revealed that Sai Sudharsan manifested India’s Test call-up while playing for Surrey in County Cricket. While Sudharsan averages only 39 in first-class cricket, he impressed one and all with his consistent performances in IPL 2025. The southpaw top-scored in the tournament with 759 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.21.

The left-hander from Tamil Nadu has shown the right temperament and has the right technique to succeed at the top level in the multi-day format.

“When he’s gone back home, he’s taken some of our Dukes cricket balls back with him. I didn’t charge him for them and just let him have them. But, no he had that forward-thinking [mindset] and trained with those balls, so that when he comes back to us, or hopefully [is] picked for India on tour, he’ll have had nice practice against the Dukes cricket ball as well,” Alex Stewart was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Stewart said Sudharsan plays the ball late, which is key to success in English conditions.

“He plays the ball late, and that’s the most important thing here. If you go too hard and get too far out in front of yourself, when the ball seams, you’re not in control, then your bat can get outside of your eyeline, whereas he plays it under his eyeline, plays it under his eyes, and plays it late. And even if he does nick it a little bit, like Kane Williamson, for example – you can nick it, but it still falls short of slip and that again is a real attribute of Sai’s,” he added.

Sudharsan is expected to bat at number three in the upcoming Test series against England. The southpaw would want to deliver consistently in the tough conditions. The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.