India A batter Sai Sudharsan scored 132 runs off 175 balls opening the innings on the opening day of the first unofficial Test vs Sri Lanka A.
Sai Sudharsan tons up on day one of unofficial Test vs Sri Lanka A
India A dominated the hosts on the opening day of their first unofficial Test in Galle, scoring 333 runs for the loss of only four wickets. Sudharsan, the senior Test team’s number three, was at the forefront of the domination as he amassed 132 runs while opening the innings after the visitors opted to bat.
Sudharsan slammed 19 fours during his 175-ball and 253-minute stay in the middle and, in a way, eased the pressure on his place in India’s Test team. Notably, India are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in August this year and the century has certainly strengthened his place in the side.
India had backed Sudharsan for the one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this month, where he scored 81 runs off 104 deliveries, despite not performing as per expectations on the England tour and the home season that followed last year. He mustered only 140 runs in six innings, including two ducks, against England, in what was his debut Test series. Sudharsan also struggled against South Africa at home, playing only the second Test in Guwahati and scoring 29 runs.
However, the 24-year-old had impressed before the South Africa series, against West Indies, amassing 133 runs in three innings. In seven Test matches so far, Sudharsan has scored 383 runs at an average of 31.91 with three fifties to his credit.
Ahead of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, India head coach Gautam Gambhir made it clear that the management would back Sudharsan and give him more opportunities. Add to it his century against Sri Lanka A, and the left-hander has not done any harm to his chances, at least for the next series.
Coming back to the action in Galle, apart from Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel and Shaik Rasheed also impressed on the first day, notching up unbeaten half-centuries. Notably, Devdutt Padikkal, who is waiting in the wings for his chance at number three in India’s Test team, failed at the same position, scoring only 12 runs.
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