Ravi Shastri bats for B Sai Sudharsan's inclusion in India's test squad for England tour

B Sai Sudharsan is yet to make test debut for India.

Former India head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors to pick Tamil Nadu opener B Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming India;s tour of England, where they will play five test matches. This will also mark the start of the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle for both England and India.

India missed out on their third straight ICC WTC final as they experienced embarrassing test series losses to New Zealand, who routed them 3-0, and then Australia regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 by defeating India 3-1 in the five-match test series Down Under.

Ever since the embarrassment of missing out on the ICC WTC 2023-25 final, there have been calls for BCCI to include fresh faces in the Indian Test team, who will play five Tests against England from June 20.

Sai Sudharsan is a class player: Ravi Shastri

Shastri claims that Sai Sudharsan, who currently ranks second on the list of the leading run-getters this IPL 2025 season for Gujarat Titans (GT), is an excellent left-hander whose technique and county experience will help him succeed in English conditions.

He has amassed 456 runs with a strike rate of 150, an average of 50.66, five fifties, and the highest score of 82 in nine games.

Although Sudharsan hasn’t played in test cricket yet, he has already earned caps in white-ball cricket, and Shastri believes he will play all formats for India in the future. In his three ODI appearances so far, Sudharsan has amassed 127 runs, including two fifties.

“I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game. He seems like a class player, and my eyes would certainly be on him. 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,” Shastri told The ICC Review.

Another player who might be chosen for the England tour but would be up against fierce opposition is Shreyas Iyer, who has had an incredible run in white-ball cricket for India in the IPL, Shastri said.

“Shreyas Iyer has the ability to return, but it will be a competition once more. White-ball, of course. We need to find out who else is present in test cricket,” Shastri remarked.

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