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

[Sooda]

30 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

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. 

 

This indeed is my point :-) !

 

Why play him there - even if it does succeed at home - when we know it isn't a long term solution? Are we going to play him all home tests then suddenly give a specialist bat an overseas tour ? of course that won't work. Wouldn't it be better to allow a specialist no 3 to cement his place in the home season?

 

One spinner , probably Sundar maybe Axar, will be under bowled. So are we saying Wash is a better batsman than Sai or other no 3 candidates? Or (more likely) as a package if he chips in with a couple of wickets, even if he doesn't score as much that makes him a better pick? I don't think that latter is the right approach 

 

It is what it is now 

[wanted_desi]

I doubt Sai would have survived that many balls. 

[wanted_desi]

6 minutes ago, Sooda said:

 

This indeed is my point :-) !

 

Why play him there - even if it does succeed at home - when we know it isn't a long term solution? Are we going to play him all home tests then suddenly give a specialist bat an overseas tour ? of course that won't work. Wouldn't it be better to allow a specialist no 3 to cement his place in the home season?

 

One spinner , probably Sundar maybe Axar, will be under bowled. So are we saying Wash is a better batsman than Sai or other no 3 candidates? Or (more likely) as a package if he chips in with a couple of wickets, even if he doesn't score as much that makes him a better pick? I don't think that latter is the right approach 

 

It is what it is now 

 

He is a better batsman than Sai even on tough wickets. He needs to focus more on his batting than his bowling. He can be the second spinner overseas — you don’t need two specialist spinners, and the second one always ends up under-bowled. As long as he can maintain a bit of control, he will have done his job.

[vvvslaxman]

4 hours ago, Sooda said:

 

This indeed is my point :-) !

 

Why play him there - even if it does succeed at home - when we know it isn't a long term solution? Are we going to play him all home tests then suddenly give a specialist bat an overseas tour ? of course that won't work. Wouldn't it be better to allow a specialist no 3 to cement his place in the home season?

 

One spinner , probably Sundar maybe Axar, will be under bowled. So are we saying Wash is a better batsman than Sai or other no 3 candidates? Or (more likely) as a package if he chips in with a couple of wickets, even if he doesn't score as much that makes him a better pick? I don't think that latter is the right approach 

 

It is what it is now 

 

Dropping of Sai will impact the team psyche overall not just Sai. Even other guys who are chosen to bat at 3 will feel "I could get dropped even if i score 87 ". Creates an insecure environment. This BS talk of "We will back you no matte what" is not going to help players. Sanju Samson was left in cold . Now Sai.

[jf1gp_1]

18 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

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

Our last no 3 have been Dravid followed by Pujara. Is Sundar the guy who can take the legacy forward? lets just hope. Personally i would have liked to see Padikkal who is in the squad. 

[vvvslaxman]

2 minutes ago, jf1gp_1 said:

Our last no 3 have been Dravid followed by Pujara. Is Sundar the guy who can take the legacy forward? lets just hope. Personally i would have liked to see Padikkal who is in the squad. 

Sundar is better than P adikkal. But having said that No.3 batsman has to bat for extended period like whole day  if necessary. Not sure Sundar has enough experience in constructing a big innings.

[jf1gp_1]

24 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Sundar is better than P adikkal. But having said that No.3 batsman has to bat for extended period like whole day  if necessary. Not sure Sundar has enough experience in constructing a big innings.

I agree with you. Jaddu got 3 triple 100s in domestic and then got the go ahead to bat at 7, sundar doesnt even have a fc 100. Ideally Sai should have continued but if you needed a change it should have been padikkal given he is in the squad. Kind of feel bad for patidar who couldnt make the most of chances he got. 

[Gollum]

Thank god no Sai here, absolute eyesore. 

 

Sai should go back and grind in domestic, he will always be an ugly batsman but at least learn the art of long format batting there. 

[raki05]

16 hours ago, express bowling said:

Good step.

Yes, Sai did javk **** in previous series. He should only be contender in 50 overs . Not t20 or test cricket material.

[raki05]

Del..

Edited November 15, 2025 by raki05

[tweaker]

Sai was lucky ,he didnt play in This match.  

[Sooda]

5 hours ago, raki05 said:

Yes, Sai did javk **** in previous series. He should only be contender in 50 overs . Not t20 or test cricket material.

 

80 odd and 30 odd in his last test. So what you said is untrue isn't it

[Sooda]

21 hours ago, wanted_desi said:

 

He is a better batsman than Sai even on tough wickets. 

 

I don't think this is true, time will tell

[Sooda]

12 hours ago, jf1gp_1 said:

I agree with you. Jaddu got 3 triple 100s in domestic and then got the go ahead to bat at 7, sundar doesnt even have a fc 100. Ideally Sai should have continued but if you needed a change it should have been padikkal given he is in the squad. Kind of feel bad for patidar who couldnt make the most of chances he got. 

 

He scored a 150 odd at no 3 for TN Vs Delhi last season! He's a good batsman. But a test no 3, is open to debate 

[Sooda]

He has bowled A grand total of 1 over so far, on a pitch really supporting spin 

[vvvslaxman]

Sundar is probably the most abused player at test level. They use him in such a way his output is never going to be big. But somehow he keeps finding ways to make use of it.  Dodgy pitch. Sent in at 3. In England not given overs at all for 60 70 overs. sent in at 8, 9. Most guys would have delivered nothing in his position. 

[BacktoCricaddict]

13 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

Sundar is better than P adikkal. But having said that No.3 batsman has to bat for extended period like whole day  if necessary. Not sure Sundar has enough experience in constructing a big innings.

Not sure about the experience, but he does have the temperament.

[putrevus]

According to many geniuses here Sarfraz is not suited for number 3 but Sundar who never batted above number 6 anywhere is suited for number 3.

 

I don't want Sundar to fail but it is ridiculous that this guy is allowed to bat at number 3 but Sarfraz is unfit to bat at number 3.

 

Morons Gambhir and Agarkar need to be asked the same question.

[raki05]

43 minutes ago, Sooda said:

 

80 odd and 30 odd in his last test. So what you said is untrue isn't it

Ya he scored 80 where india scored 570 odds against hapless indies in India. He has alreaday played 5 test and has 30ish avg. More than that even in his state team there are 3-4 batsmen who has better avg than him less said about other state domestic players. His Ranji avg also is not even 40, He might turn in to beast and so that anyone else.

[Sooda]

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

According to many geniuses here Sarfraz is not suited for number 3 but Sundar who never batted above number 6 anywhere is suited for number 3.

 

I don't want Sundar to fail but it is ridiculous that this guy is allowed to bat at number 3 but Sarfraz is unfit to bat at number 3.

 

Morons Gambhir and Agarkar need to be asked the same question.

Sundar batted at 3 for state and has a century