“Karun Nair nunca tocou no 3º lugar, Sai Sudharsan mostrou Pujara, tipo de solidez Dravid”

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Sai Sudharsan following the latter’s maiden Test fifty. Replacing Karun Nair at number 3 in the IND vs ENG 4th Test, the Tamil Nadu batter survived an early scare to post his first-ever half-century in the red-ball format. Ashwin dubbed Sudharsan as a mix of greats like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have also essayed the role of a number 3 batter in the past.

Ashwin lavishes praise on Sudharsan

In a video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin claimed that Sudharsan displayed a kind of solidity that looked like a mix of Pujara and Dravid. He heaped praise on the number 3 batter for being able to negotiate through a tough phase and earning the right to score runs. However, Ashwin said that he was a bit disappointed with Sai since he couldn’t get to what would have been a well deserved century.

“We have seen Pujara and Dravid bat at No. 3. Sudharsan showed that sort of solidity. He was able to leave the ball; of course, the wicket was a good one, but he negotiated a tough phase. He earned the right to score those runs. I am a bit upset because I am a huge well-wisher of him. He could have scored a hundred. That guy has a big appetite for runs. He just missed out on a well-deserved hundred,” Ashwin said.

“Put Karun’s mindset in a block”

The former Indian cricketer came down hard on the Indian management for dropping Karun Nair after the first three Tests. Making his return to the Test side after over 7 years, the Karnataka batter managed to score only 131 runs in 6 innings. Ashwin claimed that Nair had never batted at number 3 and that the team management had put his mindset in a block by asking him to do so.

“Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block. But credit to Sai Sudharsan because it is not easy being a youngster after getting dropped and with India 1-2 behind in the series to come into the fourth Test and respond the way he did,” Ashwin added.