Thoughts on Sai missing out/Sundar at 3...?

[Sooda]

Discuss 

 

For me it's a terrible move even if it is a move that could work well at home .

 

Sundar is a good batsman for sure and Sai had middling returns in the A series too but ultimately is a specialist bat not an All rounder which no 3 slot needs. What's the logic, is it that they're not happy with Sai, or that they wanted a sixth bowler?

 

What confidence does it give Sai, being in and out this way, After a good last test Vs WI

 

Do we need as six bowlers? Two SLA? One will be under bowled for sure

 

 

[vvvslaxman]

Tough call for Sai. But at this point Sai is not considered a vastly superior batsman over these guys. Till then they will try to look at overall picture

[rkt.india]

Sundar is also actually a specialist batsman who can bowl. He has temperament of a batsman because he started as a proper batsman, even opened the innings till u19 level. 

[cowboysfan]

They should have picked Nair like i wanted,Sai's Technique is all wrong and he needs to improve in Ranjis 

[Manucrick]

It's little unfair on sai did OK in WI series but I am happy for sundar he got the game for top order 

[Sooda]

47 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

Sundar is also actually a specialist batsman who can bowl. He has temperament of a batsman because he started as a proper batsman, even opened the innings till u19 level. 

 

I know he WAS a specialist bat who could bowl whether that is still the case remains to be seen. Certainly his bowling has improved loads and as I say he is a good batsman - but a test no 3 ? 

[Bigg Brother]

It was long coming. Our no.3 over previous few years (ChePu,Gill,Sai) weren't scoring runs anyway. So nothing to lose. They had to take decision to play Sundar as Batting AR sooner or later. 

Edited November 14, 2025 by Bigg Brother

[tweaker]

Sai should be released from squad and told to play Ranji matches

[Sooda]

1 hour ago, Bigg Brother said:

It was long coming. Our no.3 over previous few years (ChePu,Gill,Sai) weren't scoring runs anyway. So nothing to lose. They had to take decision to play Sundar as Batting AR sooner or later. 

 

Sai scored an 80 and 30 odd in his last test match! No consistency in selection. Too much chop and change

[Bigg Brother]

44 minutes ago, Sooda said:

 

Sai scored an 80 and 30 odd in his last test match! No consistency in selection. Too much chop and change

He failed against SA A, While Jurel scored. With Pant coming back- they had to make place for him. Jurel's twin centuries confirmed Sai's exit. Sai was competing with Veteran Karun and not so promising Eshwaran, so he got chances there. Jurel seems too good to be benched at this moment. They had to take punt, many were advocating for Sundar as top order for so long, so that's the combination they have reached. We may not know yet, Even Jurel can bat at 3. 

[vvvslaxman]

1 hour ago, Sooda said:

 

Sai scored an 80 and 30 odd in his last test match! No consistency in selection. Too much chop and change

Chop and change impacts only junior players. Not seniors. Jaiswal is still considered raw in LOI. Hence he is getting sidelined there.

[Gollum]

If this move works, will be one of the greatest masterstrokes in Indian cricket history. 

[Sooda]

44 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Chop and change impacts only junior players. Not seniors. Jaiswal is still considered raw in LOI. Hence he is getting sidelined there.

 

I don't know if I agree with that; even if it is true Sai isn't a "senior" as such not long into his test career and 23 yo...and anyway can't be good for anyone regardless of seniority knowing your place is up for grabs literally every time you walk out to bat.

 

Surely you can be more confident and comfortable if you're told you can have this entire series or few matches say at 3 

 

Anyway I like Washy and I'll be happier than anyone if he proves himself a great test no 3. I think Axar should have sat this out. For now, IMHO, Sai should have been given this full series 

[Sooda]

1 hour ago, Bigg Brother said:

He failed against SA A, While Jurel scored. With Pant coming back- they had to make place for him. Jurel's twin centuries confirmed Sai's exit. Sai was competing with Veteran Karun and not so promising Eshwaran, so he got chances there. Jurel seems too good to be benched at this moment. They had to take punt, many were advocating for Sundar as top order for so long, so that's the combination they have reached. We may not know yet, Even Jurel can bat at 3. 

 

Yeah Sai didn't have a good A series but it wasn't between him and Jurel. Jurel came for NKR rightly. There was no need for Axar to come back. He is a good test match player at home but with four spinners Inevitably one spinner will be under bowled a lot. 

 

 

[Bigg Brother]

7 minutes ago, Sooda said:

 

Yeah Sai didn't have a good A series but it wasn't between him and Jurel. Jurel came for NKR rightly. There was no need for Axar to come back. He is a good test match player at home but with four spinners Inevitably one spinner will be under bowled a lot. 

 

 

Axar came back for NKR. NKR was just  an experiment. He has no place in home tests. Axar can play even as pure batter at home. He won us series against Aussies with bat in 2023. Looks like Sundar isn't that entrusted with ball as he is with bat. With Axar-Jaddu, you get 2 batters and bowlers to compensate the dead tail(KD, Bumrah,Siraj)

[goose]

i wanted sundar at 3 ! 

 

i also want to give abhishek a go in tests but the repercussions of that working will ruin a lot of careers

[diga]

Sai got a raw deal... Should have been persisted once he was pushed to no-3.

[vvvslaxman]

2 hours ago, Sooda said:

 

I don't know if I agree with that; even if it is true Sai isn't a "senior" as such not long into his test career and 23 yo...and anyway can't be good for anyone regardless of seniority knowing your place is up for grabs literally every time you walk out to bat.

 

Surely you can be more confident and comfortable if you're told you can have this entire series or few matches say at 3 

 

Anyway I like Washy and I'll be happier than anyone if he proves himself a great test no 3. I think Axar should have sat this out. For now, IMHO, Sai should have been given this full series 

Washi is not an all condition all situation no.3 It is one of the most demanding job . We needed ultra specialists like Dravid, Pujara to do that job. Makeshift no.3s  is not a long term solution. Either you stick with Sai or go for someone else. Dravid, Laxman, Pujara scored boat load of runs at no.3. Sundar has never scored 200 in his life.  A requirement for a no.3 batsman. 

[rkt.india]

6 hours ago, Sooda said:

 

I know he WAS a specialist bat who could bowl whether that is still the case remains to be seen. Certainly his bowling has improved loads and as I say he is a good batsman - but a test no 3 ? 

He used to be an opening batsman. His technique was moulded that way from junior days. He may or may not succeed but it's not a bad move.

[express bowling]

Good step.