Sai Sudharsan given final ultimatum

Sai Sudharsan’s home Test debut at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad turned into a bitter disappointment, and former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has weighed in on the youngster’s struggles. Sai Sudharsan fell cheaply for just 7 runs against the West Indies in the first Test.

The 23-year-old made it into India’s Test squad with huge expectations, but he is yet to live up to the hype at the most crucial number three batting position. Sai had made his much-hyped Test debut on the England tour earlier this year after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the format.

Pressure mounts on Sai Sudharsan after another low score

Despite coming from red-hot form in the IPL 2025, the left-handed batter could manage only one fifty in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, where almost every specialist batter scored 400+ runs.

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Across his first seven Test innings so far, Sai has managed just 147 runs, which is a worrying sign. Well, Sudharsan’s dismissal in Ahmedabad came under heavy criticism, as it reflected both nerves and poor shot selection.

Read Also: Watch: KL Rahul brutally scolds Sai Sudharsan after horrible mix-up, triggers youngster’s wicket

Sai had the chance to shine in his home-like conditions, as Narendra Modi Stadium is a home ground for his IPL team Gujarat Titans, but he hesitated at the crease and had a moment of panic that almost got KL Rahul run out.

After which, Rahul vented his anger at the young batter, putting him under pressure. To make matters worse, Sai’s actual dismissal was bizarre, as he misjudged the length of the off-spinner Roston Chase and went for an unnecessary pull shot that struck his back leg mid-swing.

He failed to connect with the ball and didn’t even bother reviewing before walking back, leaving one and all stunned.

Pressure to prove himself at No.3 affected Sai Sudharsan’s shot selection: Parthiv Patel

Reacting to his dismissal, Parthiv Patel felt Sai was vulnerable against the left-arm spinners. He noted that Sai looked nervous throughout his innings, unlike his usual composed self.

Sai is known for using his feet well against spin, but he appeared hesitant to rotate the strike in the ongoing first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium, and Patel felt that the pressure to prove himself at number three may have disturbed his decision-making.

Read Also: Abhishek Sharma admits he felt inferior to Shubman Gill, makes emotional 'Yuvraj Singh' revelation

Parthiv Patel said on Star Sports, “Sai Sudharsan looked a bit tentative today. He usually uses his feet really well, especially against left-arm spinners. With left-handed batters, we know that as soon as a left-arm spinner comes in, we try to rotate the strike and wait for the right ball to go after. But I thought Sai Sudharsan was probably feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure that number three position. He just needs to stay calm.”

KL Rahul hit fifty on Day 1 in the Ahmedabad Test

Notably, the Indian team ended Day 1 at 121 for 2, still 41 runs behind West Indies’ first innings total of 162 in the two-match Test series opener in Ahmedabad. Mohammed Siraj led the charge with 4 for 40, while Jasprit Bumrah grabbed 3 for 32.

Later, KL Rahul anchored India’s innings with an unbeaten 53 off 114 balls, while captain Shubman Gill made a patient 18 off 42 balls.