India’s No.3 madness continues! Washington Sundar kicked down as Sai Sudharsan reinstated in Guwahati Test

India, led by Rishabh Pant, are taking on Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in the second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The team management has opted to bring back Sai Sudharsan, who was left out of the XI for the series opener, as the number-three batter in place of Washington Sundar.

Sudharsan recorded scores of 87 and 39 during the second Test against the West Indies. However, the left-handed batter hasn’t quite made a mark in Test cricket. The 24-year-old, who made his Test debut in England, has managed only two half-centuries in nine innings at an underwhelming average of 30.33.

Sai Sudharsan Replaces Washington Sundar at No. 3 in Team Sheet

India made a change in their batting order, promoting Sai Sudharsan to the No. 3 slot and pushing Washington Sundar down the lineup. Sundar had impressed in the first Test, yet he was listed at No. 8 below Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy on the team sheet.

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Sundar showed some grit with scores of 29 and 31 on a tricky Eden Gardens pitch. He was India’s highest run-getter in the final innings while chasing 124 runs. The off-spinner had almost no role with the ball, sending down just a single over in the first innings and none in the second.

India Playing XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

India Have Tried Multiple Options at No. 3, Including Sai Sudharsan

Since Cheteshwar Pujara played his last Test in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Final, the Indian team management has tried different players at the number three batting position. Shubman Gill was shifted from the opening role to number three after Pujara was dropped in mid-2023.

Senior player Virat Kohli briefly filled the position during a Test against New Zealand in 2024 due to Gill’s injury. Gill then moved himself down to number four after taking over the captaincy during the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy against England.

The team management also tried KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Karun Nair as makeshift options. Sai Sudharsan batted at No. 3 during the England tour but was later dropped from the playing XI. The young batter returned to the position in the West Indies series but lost his place in the Kolkata Test.

South Africa Opt to Bat After Winning the Toss in Guwahati

South Africa opted to bat after winning the toss. They entered the match with one change to their lineup. Senuran Muthusamy replaced Corbin Bosch in the playing XI. The visitors have a 1-0 lead in the series after defeating India in just three days on a sharply turning Kolkata pitch.

“We got to start afresh (after Kolkata win). This wicket looks a lot better, so we want to put up a big score. No cracks as such on the pitch,” Temba Bavuma said.

South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (w), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj

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