On the latest episode of the ICC Review, Shastri, who coached India’s Test team to back-to-back series victories in Australia, picked out one top-order batter, Sai Sudharsan, and two pace bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed, as potential selections for the England Test series which begins in June.
“I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game,” he said. “He seems like a class player and my eyes would be on him certainly. 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.”
Sai Sudharsan has been in stunning form for Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL, currently sitting behind only Suryakumar Yadav for the most runs in this year’s tournament. He is yet to play Test cricket for India, but has represented the country in the other two white-ball formats – playing one T20I and three ODIs – with scores of 55*, 62 and 10.
As for his record in the longest format, Sai Sudharsan’s 29 first-class matches have seen him rack up 1,957 runs, averaging a shade under 40. Last November, he scored a century for India A in tricky conditions in Australia. Still only 23 years old, Sai Sudharsan has also played county cricket in England, representing Surrey five times.