A Problem Spot Finds a Calm Answer
For much of this series against England, India’s No. 3 position has felt unsettled — a revolving door with more questions than answers. Coming into the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the pressure was mounting. India needed stability, clarity, and someone who could simply hold that position without drama.
They might have just found that in B Sai Sudharsan.
On Day 1, the left-hander walked in early after KL Rahul’s dismissal and played the kind of knock that doesn’t scream for headlines — but certainly deserves respect. His 61 was steady, composed, and maybe even a little old-fashioned. And it caught the attention of someone who knows a thing or two about character under pressure: Ravichandran Ashwin.
“He Has to Own That No. 3” — Ashwin’s Take
Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin was clear in his assessment:
“Credit to Sai… not easy being a youngster after getting dropped… I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future.”
This wasn’t a reaction driven by hype or emotion. It was the view of a seasoned cricketer acknowledging a performance that brought balance to a team that desperately needed it. Ashwin has seen enough Test cricket to recognise when someone does the quiet work well.
Why Sudharsan’s Knock Mattered
The innings wasn’t a highlight-reel performance. There were no sixes, no flashy shots, and certainly no theatrics. But what it had — and what India has often lacked in such conditions — was control.
Sudharsan left well outside off. He rotated the strike when he could. He didn’t force the pace or try to manufacture moments. And most importantly, he gave India something it has struggled with at No. 3 in England: time and stability.
With India finishing Day 1 at 264/4, it’s not a stretch to say his platform made that possible.
Comparing with What Didn’t Work
India tried Karun Nair at No. 3 in the previous Tests, a move that raised eyebrows. Ashwin touched on this too, not to criticise, but to point out that Nair had never batted in that position in red-ball cricket before.
Sometimes, a player is asked to fill a role that doesn’t fit their natural game. That seemed to be the case with Nair — and it showed. Confidence and rhythm are hard to fake at this level, especially in foreign conditions.
With Sudharsan, the difference was clear. He didn’t look out of place. He looked like he belonged.
The Washington Sundar Angle
Ashwin also floated another idea — that if the team truly believes in Washington Sundar’s batting, they could try him at No. 3 and include Kuldeep Yadav to deepen the bowling attack.
It’s an interesting thought. Sundar has batted in the top order in domestic cricket, and his technique is solid. But it also reflects how open India’s management has been to experimentation lately — sometimes to their detriment.
Right now, with Sudharsan delivering a performance like this, there may finally be a reason to pause the experimentation and give someone a proper run.
What This Means Going Forward
With India trailing 1–2 in the series, the fourth Test is a must-win. And performances like Sudharsan’s — measured, composed, grounded — don’t just steady a session or an innings. They shift the tone of the match. They give others the space to breathe, to build, to play their natural game.
That’s what this 61 did. And that’s why Ashwin’s endorsement carries weight. It’s not about a single knock — it’s about how that knock fits into the bigger picture.
Final Thought: No Noise, Just Value
In a game where headlines often go to the loudest shots or the fastest fifties, Sudharsan’s innings was a reminder of what makes Test cricket special. It was quiet, unflashy, but essential.
Ashwin saw that. And so did anyone watching closely.
This might not be the innings people remember at the end of the series. But it might just be the one that turned the tide — not by force, but by simply holding ground when it mattered most.
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