Watch: Sai Sudharsan falls for 4-ball duck on Test debut as Jamie Smith grabs screamer

The 23-year-old India National Cricket Team left-handed batsman Sai Sudharsan started his Test career in a horrible manner as he bagged a 4-ball duck.

On his debut, Sai Sudharsan was cleaned up England National Cricket Team skipper Ben Stokes as the wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith grabbed a stunner behind the stumps at Headingley in Leeds on June 20.

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India lost Sai Sudharsan at the stroke of Lunch

Sudharsan is regarded as one of the most talented youngsters in Indian cricket. His consistent performances in red-ball cricket as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL) earned him a maiden call-up to the Test team.

He received his Test debut cap from the legendary Cheteshwar Pujara and was given the No.3 spot by the Gautam Gambhir-led team management. It was the same position where Pujara batted for a decade and provided the stability to the Indian batting order.

Many expected Sai Sudharsan to replicate Pujara, but the youngster failed to do that and got off to a nightmarish start. He came out to bat after the dismissal of KL Rahul and was only able to stay in the middle for 4 balls.

To dismiss Sudharsan, England came up with a perfect plan as they had a leg slip in place, and Ben Stokes bowled consistently on the pads. On the 4th ball of the 26th over, Ben Stokes continued bowling as per plan, and Sudharsan nicked one back behind the stumps.

Behind the stumps, Jamie Smith leapt wonderfully to his right and grabbed a stunning catch with both hands to dismiss Sai Sudharsan for a 4-ball duck, leaving India at 92/2.

At the stroke of Lunch, India lost Sai Sudharsan for a duck soon after KL Rahul's dismissal and ended the session on a sour note after a strong start.

Watch: Sai Sudharsan falls for a 4-ball duck

pic.twitter.com/bAaNVOeTJQ

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) June 20, 2025

Here are the unwanted records created by Sudharsan

With the duck in his maiden Test innings, Sudharsan became the first Indian specialist top-7 batter in 15 years to get out in such a manner. The last batter to record this unwanted feat was Wriddhiman Saha, who fell for a duck in his maiden Test innings in 2010.

Indian Players Duck in Debut Match (Top 7 Batters) {Since 2000}

Ajay Ratra v West Indies,2002

Wriddhiman Saha v South Africa,2010

Hanuma Vihari v England, 2018

Sudharsan v England, 2025*

Indian Batter to be dismissed on duck in debut Test innings: (No. 1 to 3 Positions)

Kris Srikkanth vs ENG, Wankhede 1981

Devang Gandhi vs NZ, Mohali, 1999

Sudharsan vs ENG, Leeds 2025

Reacting to his dismissal, Cheteshwar Pujara said that the youngster was quite unfortunate and backed him to bounce back strong. Also, former cricketer Dodda Ganesh backed Sudharsan to slam a ton in the second innings.

"He's a confident cricketer. There's no need to criticise him harshly. These things happen, and I'm sure he'll come back stronger in the second innings," Pujara said.

"Chin up, Sai Sudharsan. It can happen. You will get a century in the second inns #ENGvIND," Dodda Ganesh wrote on X.