ENG vs IND 2025: After fifty at Old Trafford, does Sai Sudharsan deserve a long run at No. 3 in Tests for India?
On the eve of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester, Sai Sudharsan followed his normal routine. And surprisingly to many, it was not normal. Most batters spend time in the nets on the eve of a game to keep themselves in shape and find the right balance. But that’s not the case with Sudharsan, who smiled at Shubman Gill when the latter asked him for a hit in the nets.
However, the Tamil Nadu batter went on the hover-cover and visualised the entire atmosphere. After finishing his routine at the Brian Statham end, he repeated the same from the James Anderson end. But he perhaps wasn’t happy because the wicket was covered. As the India players were leaving the ground after the end of the session, the covers came off. Sudharsan put down his bags and rushed to the middle to go through the same routine.
Read More: ENG vs IND, 4th Test, Day 1: India’s top order blunts England attack; visitors 264-4 at stumps
Sai Sudharsan’s old-school batting brings calmness at number three
The Chennai-born has been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL with 500+ runs in successive seasons. But this franchise league and the red-ball format are chalk and cheese. On his Test debut at Leeds, he was strangled down the leg side for a first-innings duck. In the second innings, England exploited his leg-side weakness and found him caught at short mid-wicket.
As he returned at number three in Manchester, the field was set. The pitch had already displayed signs of uneven bounce and sideways movement. The 23-year-old put his head down with two vital qualities: competitive but calm. Sudharsan is old-school. In the modern era, where batters tend to keep their bats in the air on their stance, the Southpaw keeps it down on the turf.
Ben Stokes troubled him with short-pitched deliveries. Even when the batter pulled him for a boundary, the England captain clapped and tried to get under his skin. But there was hardly any effect on India’s number three. Apart from his leg-side potential dismissal when Jamie Smith dropped a regulation catch, Sudharsan did not give any chance to the opposition.
When the left-handed batter reached his maiden Test fifty, it was a relief for the management. And why not? That was the first half-century by India’s number three in away red-ball clashes since Cheteshwar Pujara celebrated the landmark against Bangladesh in December 2022.
If there is anything Sudharsan could work on, it would be his technique on the leg-sided balls. His head falls on the off-side, and the bat moves into the on-side. Naturally, he loses balance. But, he weathered the storm in Manchester for his fine knock of 61, thanks to seven boundaries.
Read More: India’s no. 3 conundrum persists in Tests: What is the solution?
There’s something about watching a young player find his rhythm at No. 3 in testing English conditions. It makes you feel quietly hopeful.
— Priyank Panchal (@PKpanchal09) July 24, 2025
Sai Sudharsan’s 61 at Old Trafford spoke clearly to those of us who have spent years trying to decode what it takes to succeed in that… pic.twitter.com/dL7pBxXYQh
Can Sai Sudharsan solve India’s number three puzzle in Tests?
Since the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, the Blue Brigade has made several changes in their number three. From Devdutt Padikkal to Gill to KL Rahul to Karun Nair to Sai Sudharsan, all were fit in the role in some shape. But they still couldn’t cement an individual in that position.
Batting at number three is a hard job. After a long day in the field, when an opener gets out, the dressing room becomes nervous. That’s where the number three walks out. Taking body blows, playing ugly shots, and seeing off the new ball, they calm down the dressing room. And from that position, it’s about scoring runs and putting the opposition on the back foot.
Nair was able to see off the new ball on many occasions in the series. But he wasn’t getting the runs after that. That’s a huge issue. Getting out after being set in challenging conditions is not an ideal job, especially at number three. In the past, when Cheteshwar Pujara or Rahul Dravid used to get their eyes in, the expectation was only about a century.
Sudharsan has displayed that quality in a short career of three Test innings He has his own game plan. During his knock at Manchester, he displayed his monotonous side of batting. And that’s what this format demands. Two opponents come up with their plans, and one will eventually break. The question is, who will break first?
Some of the shots the 23-year-old played during his 61-run knock will not make one feel tired. One of them was the backfoot punch for four off Stokes, and another one was the cover-drive against the spin. He found a way to score runs in an old-school manner. Sai has shown enough promise to give India hope to finally find their Test number three. Now it’s up to the management to support him at this position.
Read More: Is Sai Sudharsan geared up for Test cricket?
