With India dominating the opening Test against the West Indies in Ahmedabad, attention now turns to Delhi, where the second and final Test begins on Friday, October 10. Among the many talking points ahead of the match is the form of young left-hander Sai Sudharsan, who managed just seven runs in the first innings of his debut Test.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has now come out in support of the Tamil Nadu batter, urging the Indian team management to persist with him for one more game. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin emphasized the importance of backing young talent and giving Sudharsan the confidence to perform.

“I really hope he capitalizes on that innings in Delhi. He is young, very motivated, and a high-quality player. I hope he gets runs in this game because with the competition that exists in the Indian Test setup, it could get difficult for him if he doesn’t perform here,” said Ashwin. “For that reason, I think this Test match is very, very important. I really hope he plays this Test. They should give him another go.”

Ashwin calls for unchanged XI

Ashwin further suggested that India should stick with the same XI that won convincingly in the first Test, arguing that consistency in selection helps maintain balance and confidence.

“The team that won should remain unchanged. There’s a lot of talk about Sai Sudharsan, but I hope the kid gets another chance. He has batted well in tough conditions in England too. Devdutt Padikkal is breathing very strongly under his neck, but Sai deserves another go,” Ashwin added.

Praise for Sudharsan’s temperament

Ashwin also lauded Sudharsan’s mental strength and composure, acknowledging that while he isn’t privy to the dressing-room dynamics, he believes the youngster has the right temperament for Test cricket.

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“Sai Sudharsan is temperamentally very sound. I don’t know what kind of bubble he is in or how the management is treating him, but this series is a golden chance for him to cement his place,” Ashwin noted. So far, Sudharsan has played four Tests, scoring 147 runs at an average of 21.00, with one half-century to his name.

Ashwin recalls Devdutt Padikkal’s impressive showing in practice games

The off-spinner also reflected on Devdutt Padikkal’s performances in the practice match before the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin revealed that both Padikkal and Abhimanyu Easwaran impressed during that game, showing grit against India’s premier fast bowlers.

“We played a practice match in Perth before the Australia series. Devdutt and Abhimanyu Easwaran batted for two hours without losing a wicket against Siraj and Bumrah. Devdutt was unbelievably good,” Ashwin recalled.
“Padikkal is right behind Sudharsan, which is good for Indian cricket. It keeps the competition healthy. But this Delhi Test is very important for Sai Sudharsan.”

Padikkal, who has already featured in two Tests, has scored 90 runs at an average of 30.00, including a half-century. With the series already in India’s control, the second Test offers Sudharsan another chance to prove his credentials at the international level. As Ashwin suggested, a strong performance in Delhi could go a long way in securing his spot in an increasingly competitive Indian batting lineup.