"No one can do what Virat Kohli did": Sai Sudharsan hit with bold warning before Test debut

The 23-year-old India National Cricket Team left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan has received a strong message ahead of his Test debut in the five-match series against the England National Cricket Team.

Former England National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart has said that Sai Sudharsan shouldn't look to emulate Virat Kohli as no one can do what the India legend has done in Test cricket.

Also Read: England star walks away from Cricket just before India series

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Can he not be the next Virat but can he be the best version of Sai Sudharsan? - Alec Stewart

Sai Sudharsan has received his maiden Test call-up for the series against England, and he is likely to receive his debut cap in the first match itself.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had clarified that Sudharsan has been picked in the team based on his performances in domestic cricket and not just IPL. He had also said that the batter was on the selectors' radar for quite some time, and once the position opened in Team India, he got a call-up.

With Sudharsan set for a mega Test debut in England, Stewart gave some advice to the young batter. He strictly told the Tamil Nadu star not to think about becoming the next Virat Kohli, but to focus on becoming the best version of himself.

"Obviously big shoes to fill, with Mr Kohli standing down. But no one can do what Virat has done. If he can go in and almost not think of 'I'm Virat' because he's not replacing him… Virat has retired. And therefore, can he not be the next Virat but can he be the best version of Sai Sudharsan? Then India have got yet another high-quality cricketer," he said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Notably, Sudharsan is likely to bat in the top four for the India National Cricket Team after the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket.

Sai came as an unknown and his experience of the English game was very limited - Sai Sudharsan

Making Test debut in England is not an easy job for any player, but Sudharsan has some experience of playing in the country, and he would be looking to take confidence from his 2023-24 stint with Surrey.

Alec Stewart, who was Surrey's director of cricket when an inexperienced Sai Sudharsan was picked in the team, said that Vikram Solanki recommended him to select the Tamil Nadu star in the squad. He said:

"Sai came as an unknown and his experience of the English game was very limited. Vikram Solanki [the former England batter and current GT director of cricket] was massive in recommending him to me, and I have so much respect for Vikram.

"From his first training session, you could see that he was a special talent, and he hasn't looked back. He loves to bat - whether in the nets or in the middle - and just fitted into our set-up perfectly."

He plays the ball late, and that's the most important thing here - Alec Stewart

Stewart also opined that Sai Sudharsan has got all the weapons in the armory to succeed in England as he plays the ball late and has got a lot of shots under his belt. He said:

"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.

"The pitches are quicker here, certainly at The Oval, and to succeed, you have to be able to play off the back foot. You've got to be selective to pull, hook, cut or let go. He gets out of the [line of the] short ball well but can also play the uppercut over the slips. He's got a full array of shots, and he gets them in right order."