'He earned the right...' - Legendary India player compares Sai Sudharsan to greats like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara after just one innings in ongoing ENG vs IND 4th Test

The inclusion of Sai Sudharsan in place of Karun Nair left former India international Ravichandran Ashwin in double mind. He praised Sudharsan for his stellar performance at Old Trafford, coming in at number 3. In the same video, he criticized Team India management for not supporting Karun Nair, despite Shubman Gill's positive intentions during the pre-match press conference. India, playing the 4th Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, after getting defeated at Lord's and allowing the home team to capture a 2-1 lead. In this scenario, Gill and his boys have no option but to win the match at any cost. Sudharsan's stoic 61 came at the right time and with the right purpose. Team India, in their previous encounters, had to suffer badly because of multiple batting collapses. Sudharsan, batting at number 3, played the confident knock after losing the wicket of KL Rahul and then the departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Sudharsan's innings helped the team to endure the wickets of openers. 

"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," speaking on ‘Ash ki Baat’ on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said. 

"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." 

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An unusual position for Karun Nair 

The former India international felt that the team management should offer Karun Nair another chance. Because he had to bat at number 3, where he had not batted before. 

"Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block," Ashwin said.