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Young Indian batter Sai Sudharsan was surprisingly missing from the playing XI for the opening Test against South Africa in Kolkata, starting November 14. The 24-year-old enjoyed inarguably his best Test outing in India's most recent game in the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi.
Sai scored a solid-looking 87 in the first innings, followed by a crucial 39 in a tricky run-chase as India completed a seven-wicket win. Yet, the 24-year-old hasn't set the world on fire in the long format since his debut in the England series before the West Indies affair.
The southpaw averages an underwhelming 30.33 in his five-Test career with only two half-centuries in nine innings. If the team sheet at the toss was evidence, India have opted for fellow Tamil Nadu cricketer Washington Sundar at No.3, replacing Sai Sudharsan.
Fans on X had mixed reactions to Sai's dropping from the playing XI for the ongoing Kolkata Test.
Here are some of the best reactions:
@Rajiv1841 Not sure if Sundar could do justice to no. 3 . But Sudharsan is rightly dropped , there can't be different yardsticks for Sai and other for Karun & Sarfaraz who have far better First Class average and much bigger sample size. Gaikwad was an ideal fit.
Sai Sudharsan dropped. 🤯 Washington Sundar batting at 3. Playing 4 spinners. Gautam Gambhir is truly unpredictable as a Coach. #INDVSSA
Washington Sundar at 3 is an experiment I can get behind. Has good technique and temperament. Maybe slightly unfair on Sai Sudharsan, though
Fans continued reacting to Sai's surprising exclusion from the 11, with one saying:
"No one really knows what Gautam Gambhir is planning. Ever since Kohli left, he still hasn’t figured out who should bat at No. 3 in Tests. He tried Sai Sudharsan for a few matches and then dropped him." "Sai Sudharsan has been continuously struggling at No.3 and failing to make big scores. In 9 Inn at No.3, just 273 runs at an AVG of 30, with only 2 fifties and 2 ducks, dropping him from the team is more than fair! It’s time for Dhruv Jurel at No.3 to step in and take charge," said a fan. "Clearly team management doesn’t have enough confidence in Sai Sudarshan, he averages 40 in FC, low scores in recent India-A test matches didn’t help his cause, need to have atleast 45+ avg in first class, " a fan posted."Playing musical chairs without a vision" - Dodda Ganesh
Former Indian pacer Dodda Ganesh was unimpressed with the team management dropping Sai Sudharsan and constantly toying with the vital No.3 position in Tests. With the recent Test retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara, skipper Shubman Gill relinquished the No. 3 position in Tests to move to No. 4.
It meant Team India alternated between Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair at one drop in England.
"The no 3 in the batting lineup is the most imp slot in a test XI & Ind is playing musical chairs without a vision. Can’t believe this is happening at the test level. Should’ve given Sai Sudharsan these tests.U don’t need 4 spinners no matter how much turn the pitch offers," said Dodda Ganesh on his X handle.Incidentally, Sundar has never batted at No. 3 for India in Tests despite his stellar overall Test record with an average of almost 45 in 16 matches.
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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
English (US)