Sai Sudharsan is on the brink of a Test debut for India, and expectations have never been higher. The 23-year-old was named the Emerging Player of the Season in IPL 2025 and walked away with the Orange Cap after scoring 759 runs at an average of 54.21 for the Gujarat Titans.
While his white-ball exploits have made headlines, Sudharsan’s inclusion in India’s Test squad has also invited scrutiny, particularly due to his modest first-class average of 39.93. However, Sudharsan isn’t losing sleep over it. Speaking exclusively to The Times of India, he responded to questions around his red-ball numbers with maturity and clarity.
Sai Sudharsan doesn’t look at averages
“I don’t look at my averages. It’s not about personal goals; it’s about things that you can do for the team so that we can win,” he said. “For me, winning means more than statistics and milestones. The idea is to improve as a batter in all formats.” Sudharsan added that his most satisfying moments in red-ball cricket have come in long, hard-fought Ranji Trophy matches. “I have not won much in red-ball cricket, barring some Ranji games. Winning Ranji Trophy matches have been special because it happens over a longer period. You know you have sustained your hard work for a longer period of time and getting the reward for that is beautiful.”
Why does Sai Sudharsan deserve a spot in India XI?
There’s been noise about Sai Sudharsan’s first-class average sitting just under 40, but those numbers don’t tell the full story. If you’ve watched him bat, especially over the last year, you’d know he’s grown into a far more complete player than his stats might suggest. He has definitely worked on his white-ball game, with Sudharsan’s strike rate at IPL 2025 being 156.17, way more than the likes of Rinku Singh (153.73), Rohit Sharma (149.28), and Sanju Samson (140.39).
Take his Ranji Trophy season earlier this year. He averaged 76, played a double-century knock that lasted over two days, and looked in control throughout. That wasn’t a flat-track innings, it came with responsibility when Tamil Nadu needed someone to dig in. That’s exactly the kind of maturity India needs as they rebuild their Test batting unit.
He’s also spent time in England playing county cricket with Surrey, which gives him a head start on understanding those tricky early-season conditions. And for a guy who’s only 23, he’s already shown he can step up when it matters. He has clubbed a hard-fought century for India A as well. You’re right. Here’s a more natural, human-sounding version:
Sai Sudharsan’s first-class stats
| Span | Inns | Runs | Av. | 100s | 50s | HS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2022-25 | 49 | 1957 | 39.93 | 7 | 5 | 123 |
| County Cricket | 2023-24 | 8 | 281 | 35.12 | 1 | 1 | 105 |
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