Sai Sudharsan is feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure that No.3 position: Ex-Indian keeper-batter

Former Indian keeper-batter and commentator Parthiv Patel has stated that the Indian No.3 batter Sai Sudharsan is feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure his position in the longest format of the game.

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Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar, Parthvi also asserted that Sudharsan needs to stay calm at the crease and try to rotate the strike as much as possible. For the unversed, Sudharsan got one skidding on to the middle and hit his back leg right in front, and the umpire was quick to raise his finger as the No.3 batter went back to the pavilion for only seven runs off 19 balls.

"Sai Sudharsan looked a bit tentative today. He usually uses his feet really well, especially against left-arm spinners. With left-handed batters, we know that as soon as a left-arm spinner comes in, we try to rotate the strike and wait for the right ball to go after. But I thought Sai Sudharsan was probably feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure that number three position. He just needs to stay calm,” Parthiv Patel said on JioHotstar.

On the other hand, the Indian opening batter, KL Rahul, stood unbeaten on 53 off 114 balls with six fours at stumps on Day 1 as India were trailing by only 41 runs. He stitched a 60-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening wicket.

Notably, Rahul came into this Test on the back of an exceptional unbeaten 176-run knock against Australia A in the second unofficial Test earlier last month in Lucknow as India A secured a five-wicket win over their opposition. 

Parthiv went on to heap praises on the senior opening batter for staying strong and continuing his good form from the England tour against the West Indies. He also felt that the Karnataka batter is much more in control and settled now, adding that his century against Australia A gave him a lot of confidence. 

"KL Rahul was outstanding today; he carried on his form from the England tour. Before that series, there were concerns about his form, but I thought he took responsibility really well. It's very important when a team is going through a transition that your senior players step up, and that's exactly what KL Rahul did in England. Today, as well, 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 that time to settle, and once he was set, we saw him using his feet and rotating the strike,” he added.

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"He looks much more in control and settled now. I think that hundred against Australia A also gave him a lot of confidence, because when you head into a Test series after scoring so many runs, it makes a difference. 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,” he concluded.

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