Manchester: Sai Sudharsan was shadow batting on a covered square at Old Trafford on the eve of the fourth Test, an old habit that keeps the top-order batter mentally ready for the next opportunity that comes his way.
That daily ritual helped Sudharsan on day one as he ended up with his maiden Test fifty in testing conditions at Old Trafford.
“I do it every day. It’s my go-to thing. So, I do it whenever possible, whichever time possible. I always visualise it. It’s a great, great skill which anybody can possess, and mentally you’ll be ready,” said the soft-spoken batter during the post-day press conference here on Wednesday.
Back at No. 3 now, on a pitch that was already showing signs of uneven bounce and appreciable sideways movement, Sai Sudharsan showed those two exact qualities: competitiveness and finding a way.
“It was a really enjoyable experience,” Sai Sudharsan said of the contest against the short ball and Stokes. “Because the best bowler in the country is steaming in, trying to hit you hard and you were batting there and giving your best for the team. That’s one of the best feelings you can have. And of course, playing against England on their home soil, definitely, you have to be ready for that aggressive nature. So I enjoyed it very well.”
Stokes, in particular, troubled him the most, both with his straight lines and short-pitched bowling. He also tried to get under his skin when Sai Sudharsan took him on and hit a four. Stokes clapped him all the way back from his follow-through. And since Sai Sudharsan was running his runs after hitting the pull, he could see Stokes right in his face. And, as he said it, he enjoyed it.
For an innings that can be considered slow by many used to modern batting pace, Sai Sudharsan played at least five shots that will make any highlights reel: two dismissive pulls with his front leg in the air a la Gordon Greenidge, a back-foot punch for four off Stokes, and two whippy cover-drives off spinners. He was, as has been said of him, finding ways.
Sai Sudharsan’s innings was crucial for India in this match because England hadn’t necessarily made full use of the conditions in the first session and were beginning to make amends after lunch. He walked in at the fall of yet another wicket just before or after a break. He weathered the storm the way India have been desperate for their No. 3 to do even as wickets fell at the other end.
This was the first half-century by an India No. 3 in nine Tests starting that Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There will be days when Sai Sudharsan will be more fluent. There will also be days when he won’t enjoy the rub of the green. But by steering the team towards a good score on a day that they likely lost Rishabh Pant to a suspected foot fracture. Sai Sudharsan has shown enough to back up the promise shown in him and give India hopes they might have found a No. 3.
