With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli vacating two positions from India’s Test Playing XI, IPL’s Mr Consistent, Sai Sudharsan, is all set for a debut in the IND vs ENG Test series. But the million-dollar question is, which position? The youngster from Tamil Nadu has scored 617 runs in IPL 2025 as an opener. He is the designated opener for Tamil Nadu in domestic competitions. But will India play him as an opener in England instead of an experienced KL Rahul to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal?
The decision could be tricky. Despite tons of runs in white-ball cricket, Sudharsan is still a rookie in red-ball cricket. He does not have that Mr Consistent in red-ball cricket like Sarfaraz Khan. However, he is talented, and the BCCI Selection Committee has already noted that, handing him a T20I and ODI debut. But Test cricket is a different beast, and England is even more difficult with the new Dukes ball swinging for nearly 40 overs. Is Sai Sudharsan ready for that gamble?
KL Rahul vs Sai Sudharsan: Who should open?
Had Rohit Sharma not retired, he would have kept the opening spot. Now, that’s out of the question. The other options are Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. While Shubman, who is likely to take over as the new Test captain, is preferred for No 3 slot, KL Rahul does not have a fixed slot. He is the floater India need but should not opt for.
On the last tour to England, Rahul scored a century at Lord’s as an opener. He has scored nearly 600 runs in England at an average of 37.31, including two centuries. Should India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, ignore that to accommodate Sai Sudharsan as an opener?
KL Rahul in England
| Batting position | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 18 | 614 | 149 | 34.11 | 2 | 1 |
| As an Opener | 16 | 597 | 149 | 37.31 | 2 | 1 |
| At No 3 | 2 | 17 | 13 | 8.50 | 0 | 0 |
Sai Sudharsan, on the other hand, has scored a half-century at No 4 and a century at No 6 for Surrey in England. For India A, he has batted at No 3. In Australia, he scored a century, batting at No 3. However, with Yashasvi Jaiswal also a left-hander, Gambhir may opt for a right-hander to partner with him.
That gives KL Rahul the advantage. Even though Rahul went on the Australia tour as a reserved middle-order batter, he was promoted to the opening slot with Rohit Sharma missing the first Test. Rahul scored 77 in the 2nd innings of the Perth Test and 84 in the Brisbane Test. With so many changes to his batting positions in the last two years, it is unlikely that the team management will tinker with that aspect once again. Rahul is the likely opener.
Sudharsan at No 3?
There are speculations that Shubman Gill will be asked to take Virat Kohli’s No 4 spot. Gill hasn’t succeeded at No 3 spot he chose after Cheteshwar Pujara was snubbed from Tests. Although Gill has averaged 37.74 at No 3, in away Tests, that drops to 19.27 with 36 being his highest score. His only success has come at No 3, playing at home.
However, with the two stalwarts of Indian cricket bidding goodbye to Test cricket, India need an overhaul of batting positions. And, Shubman Gill might be demoted to No 4 for Sai Sudharsan.
However, the alternative options can’t be ruled out either. If Sai Sudharsan is sent to open with Jaiswal, Gill would keep his No 3 slot with KL Rahul taking up the No 4 role in Kohli’s absence. Now, the ball is in Gautam Gambhir’s court to take the call.
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