The former Indian top-order batter, Sanjay Manjrekar, has made his choice for the new number three of the Indian batting line-up for the upcoming fourth Test of the five-match series at Old Trafford in Manchester. The tourists are behind in the series, at the moment, by a margin of 2-1 after their 22-run defeat at Lord’s during the third fixture.

Manjrekar addressed that the left-handed batter, Sai Sudharsan, would be the best choice at number three for the Manchester game after the Tamil Nadu batter smashed 30 runs in the second innings of the opening Leeds Test. The Indian management decided to leave him out and use Karun Nair at number three after giving a promotion in the lower order.

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‘Sai Sudharsan was always number three. After the first Test, there was some promise with 30 runs, and when you have flat pitches and one of England’s weakest bowling attacks, you want to play your young players. So Karun Nair at number I didn’t agree with.’ Sanjay Manjrekar expressed in a recent interaction on ESPNcricinfo that he felt it would have been the best plan to give chances to the young players.

 Watch: Sanjay Manjrekar picks India’s number three for ENG vs IND Manchester Test

‘Maybe the team management might just want to prove a point by saying that we keep backing the right horse and give him one more match. That’s something that happens with captains and team management. But I would like to see Sai Sudharsan at number three.’ The former Mumbai batter explained in the same discussion.

Sanjay Manjrekar would like to see India give Sai Sudharsan another go for the Manchester Test. Thoughts? #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/V3Ewf9kuLy

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 20, 2025

Sudharsan seemed to have a definite issue on the leg side as Ben Stokes used a fine plan to trap the southpaw batter. The 23-year-old has smashed 1987 runs in 51 innings at an average of below 39 and a strike rate of nearly 55, thanks to seven centuries and five half-centuries at the best score of 213 runs.

However, the Vidarbha batter, Karun Nair, could collect only 111 runs in four innings at an average of under 28. With the visiting side behind in the series, the management may take a bold decision to either use Sudharsan at number three for Manchester or have Washington Sundar at this position. But Manjrekar wants the former.