IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli's hopes shatter as replacement scores a hundred in Australia before Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Titans (GT) batting sensation Sai Sudharsan has been giving serious headaches to the national selectors and the Indian cricket team management with his stunning performances ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Days after being retained by the Gujarat Titans (GT) for INR 8.5 crore, Sai Sudharsan smoked a remarkable century for India A in their first four-day game against Australia A in MacKay. The timing of the Tamil Nadu star’s ton can never be better than this.

Sai Sudharsan sparks selection dilemma as Virat Kohli’s form falters ahead of Australia tour

Sudharsan is already part of India’s squad for the much-waited tour of Australia, where they will play five Test matches starting on November 22 in Perth. With Virat Kohli struggling to score, he can be the perfect replacement for Team India, considering his red-ball form.

💯 for Sai Sudharsan

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Virat Kohli has been yet again going through the lean patch in Test cricket, as he failed to deliver consistently with the bat, and in the ongoing home Test series against New Zealand, Virat Kohli's form has definitely become a big concern for the national team ahead of the Australia tour.

While angry fans are calling for Virat Kohli’s ouster from the Test XI, the Indian cricket team is highly unlikely to drop the dashing right-hander, given his caliber and track record on foreign soil for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Sai Sudharsan gives a big headache to India for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-24 with a maiden ton in Australia

Still, the team management can’t ignore Sai Sudharsan’s sensational batting performances. The left-handed batter could be the perfect replacement for struggling Virat Kohli for the high-voltage Test series against Australia. Notably, Kohli could hit only two fifties across his 14 international innings.

On the other hand, the 23-year-old Sai is currently making all the right noises. On Day 3 of the first unofficial Test match, Sudharsan scored a single against Australia A off-spinner Todd Murphy to reach his maiden hundred on Australian soil. It was his seventh first-class hundred.

India A bounced back strongly in the first unofficial Test against Australia A, setting a formidable 225-run target at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena. Sudharsan's splendid century (103 runs off 200 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal’s steady 88 runs off 199 balls took the team to a strong position.

Mukesh Kumar shines with the ball for India A

India A bowled out for just 107 in the first innings, bounced back with a gritty 312 in their second outing to turn out the game on its head against Australia A. Mukesh Kumar, who finished with a remarkable six-wicket haul (6/46), was the standout bowler for India A, having played a key role in restricting Australia A to 195, giving them a mere 88-run lead in their first innings.

Prasidh Krishna also provided support to Mukesh by claiming three wickets. With India A in a precarious position, Sudharsan and Padikkal took charge in the second innings, stitching together a solid 178-run stand for the third wicket. Sudharsan anchored the innings, finding the boundary nine times, while Padikkal complemented him with six well-placed fours.

Australia A’s Fergus O'Neill claimed four wickets and Todd Murphy scalped three wickets against India A. Chasing the 225-run target, Australia A already lost three wickets for 85 runs, and their current score stands at 103 runs in 35 overs against India A.