SENA tours have never been easy for the subcontinent teams. With India set to tour England later this year, people have begun discussing which players should be part of the squad and who should not be considered.
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Ravi Shastri, who previously coached India, believes the in-form Gujarat Titans batter, Sai Sudharsan, deserves a serious look for the England Tests.
He is impressed not just by Sudharsan’s IPL form but also his experience in English conditions, which only few young Indian players possess.
Should Sai Sudharsan be part of India squad for England Test tour?
Sudharsan has been one of the standout performers in IPL 2025. He has already scored over 500 runs this season with five half-centuries to his name.
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More importantly, Sudharsan has had two stints in County cricket with Surrey- in 2023 and 2024. He scored 281 runs across both seasons. Those experiences give him an edge over many young Indian batters who have only played domestic cricket in India.
The young left-hander has also done well in first-class cricket. Representing Tamil Nadu, he has scored 1957 runs at an average close to 40.
IND vs ENG Tests: What did Ravi Shastri say about Sai Sudharsan?
Speaking on the ICC Review, Shastri was clear in his admiration:
"I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game. He seems like a class player and my eyes would be on him certainly," Shastri said.
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Shastri said that Sudharsan’s exposure to County cricket and his ability to adjust to English pitches could make him a valuable asset in India’s Test setup.
"Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions, and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he'll be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side,” added Shastri.
Why is India under pressure ahead of the England Test tour?
After heavy defeats to Australia and New Zealand, India missed out on a place in the WTC final. The upcoming five-Test series in England will be their first assignment in the new WTC cycle.
Playing in English conditions has historically troubled Indian batters. Even seasoned names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have struggled to produce consistent scores there.
India will be searching for batters who can adapt quickly and deliver.