Former India off-spinner R Ashwin slammed the Indian team management for disrupting Karun Nair’s confidence by drafting him in at No. 3 in two matches before dropping him in the Manchester Test. Ashwin was, however, effusive in his praise for Sai Sudharsan, who returned to the XI at Nair’s expense and cracked a half-century, drawing him into a comparison with No. 3 stalwarts Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Sai Sudharsan’s inclusion meant that Nair was axed despite receiving the backing from India captain Shubman Gill on match eve. “We have had conversations with him (Nair). We think Karun is batting well. (In) first match, he didn’t played at his number. It’s difficult when a player is making a comeback in a series like this, and but I don’t think there’s any issue with his batting,” Gill told reporters on Tuesday.
While he batted at No. 6 in the first Test, scoring 0 and 20 as Sudharsan batted at 3 on debut, Nair was sent up to the one-down slot for the Edgbaston and Lord’s Tests that followed. However, the 33-year-old could not convert his starts, entering a frustrating sequence of 31, 26, 40 and 14.
Speaking on ‘Ash ki Baat’ on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: “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. I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future to be able to give a bit of solidity for the team.”
‘Solidity of Dravid, Pujara…’
However, young southpaw Sudharsan made the most of his second chance since his debut at No. 3 on Wednesday. The Tamil Nadu batter’s stoic knock ensured that India did not crumble after losing openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal post lunch. Biding his time, Sudharsan cracked his maiden Test half-century before falling on 61 after spending 196 minutes at the crease.
Ashwin said Sudharsan’s assurance and solidity reminded him of India’s most successful No. 3 batters, Dravid and Pujara.
“We have seen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid bat at No. 3. Sai 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.”
