Young Indian batter Sai Sudharsan may be putting unnecessary pressure on himself as he tries to cement his place at No. 3 in the Indian Test team, believes former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel. On Day 1 of the first Test against the West Indies, Sudharsan looked far from his best, managing just 7 runs off 19 deliveries before being dismissed by Roston Chase.
A Struggle for Rhythm Despite Recent Form
Sudharsan made his Test debut earlier this year in England and has shown flashes of potential, with scores of 0, 30, 61, 0, 38, and 11 in his first three matches. Though inconsistent, he found form in the lead-up to this series, impressing against Australia A with scores of 73, 75, and 100.
However, against the West Indies, the left-hander appeared unsure at the crease. Known for his comfort against spin, Sudharsan misread a delivery from Chase, went back to play the pull shot, missed it completely, and was trapped plumb in front.
Adding to his woes, he had a moment of poor judgment when a risky call almost got KL Rahul run out — an incident that visibly frustrated the senior batter.
According to Parthiv Patel, Sudharsan may be overthinking and putting pressure on himself to score big.
“Sai Sudharsan looked a bit tentative today. He usually uses his feet really well, especially against left-arm spinners. But I thought he was probably feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure that number three position. He just needs to stay calm,” Patel said during commentary on Star Sports.
KL Rahul Continues to Impress with Composed Knock
While Sudharsan struggled, KL Rahul once again showed why he is one of India’s most dependable batters in the current lineup. The experienced right-hander remained unbeaten on 53 off 114 balls at stumps, guiding India to a solid position, with just 41 runs behind and eight wickets still in hand.
Patel praised Rahul for carrying forward the same discipline he showed during the England series, where he scored 532 runs in 10 innings at an impressive average of 53.20.
“Today, he played the situation really well. The West Indies opening bowling pair was disciplined, and KL gave them the respect they deserved. He gave himself time to settle, and once he was in, we saw him rotating the strike and using his feet beautifully,” said Patel.
He added that Rahul’s hundred against Australia A before the West Indies series likely boosted his confidence further. With his current form, Patel believes Rahul could be on track for his best-ever year in Test cricket, surpassing even his stellar 2017 season.
“It’s been an outstanding year for KL Rahul, his second-best after 2017. I think he will surpass that record this year because he is looking in very good shape,” Patel concluded.
