Ex-India cricketer Aakash Chopra has criticised Indian team management of selective dropping of Sai Sudharsan, the youngster, for the Kolkata Test against South Africa. He also asked why the management was not more supportive of the promising batter. As part of a seldom-seen strategy, India played four spinners in the match, so Sudharsan was left out and Axar Patel was included in the playing XI.
Sudharsan got his first opportunity at the pivotal No. 3 position on the England tour but was dropped after one Test match. After a failed experiment with Karun Nair at the same position, the team decided to take Sudharsan back for the series against the West Indies. In the Test at Delhi, he made a brilliant 87, thereby proving that he warranted a continuous run in the most important batting role. Nevertheless, he was once again left out of the Kolkata Test, a move that Chopra didn't hesitate to question.
Aakash Chopra questions lack of backing for Sai Sudharsan
Chopra pointed out the inconsistency in team selection, stressing the need for backing young talent. “If you’re not convinced with Sai Sudharsan’s batting after what he did in Delhi, then why is he still in the squad? Why keep him in the team? It can’t be that just because you need fifteen players, you include him even though you have no belief in him. That’s not how it works. Their thinking I don’t understand it,” he said, as quoted by India Today.
Since the eras of Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, India has struggled to find a long-term No. 3. While Shubman Gill had success in the position, he moved to No. 4 after Virat Kohli’s retirement, leaving the spot unsettled. Chopra emphasised that the musical chairs approach at this crucial position cannot continue. He urged the team management to identify and back a player for the long term, ensuring proper preparation and grooming.
Chopra acknowledged that the selection of an extra spinner may have been tactical. “Let me play devil’s advocate — there were three spinners, two fast bowlers, and the West Indies didn’t get bowled out by us the second time. It was a flat pitch; maybe they felt they wouldn’t bowl them out, so they wanted one more bowler. I don’t think the decision had anything to do with batting. If Washington plays, or if Axar plays, they will score so many runs that you won’t miss Sai Sudharsan’s contribution,” he said.
He added, “When the team is winning, that’s part of cricket — but preparing players is equally important. Sai Sudharsan scored runs and still got dropped. The No. 3 spot cannot become a game of musical chairs. Rahul Dravid, Cheteshwar Pujara — if you don’t identify the right guy now, then what? There was Karun Nair, maybe next time Abhimanyu Easwaran — and Sai doesn’t get prepared at all.”
