IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Former India coach Shastri backs Sai Sudarshan for No. 3 slot
Former India coach Ravi Shastri wants to see Sai Sudharsan make his Test debut and bat at the crucial No.3 position in the series opener against England, also adding that Karun Nair will be ideal in the number five position after an âincredibleâ run in first-class cricket.
The first of the five-match series starts in Leeds on Friday in what will be Shubman Gillâs first assignment as India captain.
âIt would be (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, and with him will be K L Rahul, because I think this is a big tour for him. Heâs the most experienced of the batsmen,â Shastri said on the ICC Review on Tuesday.
âHe (Rahul) opened last time when India toured England, got a hundred, (and) had a good tour. So, I would hope for him to open the innings.
âThree, Iâll go with the youngster, Sai Sudharsan. Whatever Iâve seen of him heâs very impressive. This will be good exposure for him, this tour.â The 23-year-old Sudharsan is enjoying a great run of form, having recently become the youngest player to amass 700 runs in a single IPL season after a successful outing in first-class cricket.
In the former India skipperâs preferred side for the first Test, the top-three batters are joined by the new Test captain at No.4, having batted at No.3 in his first 32 Test matches.
Karun Nair, who returns to the Test team after eight years, should be the ideal choice at No.5 at Headingley based on current form, feels Shastri.
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Besides his âincredibleâ run in first-class cricket, Nairâs experience of county cricket also works in his favour.
âIn all probability, depending on what the current form is, itâll be Karun Nair. He bats at five, itâs a long time since he played for India. Six will be (Rishabh) Pant.
âI think he (Nair) has worked really hard. Heâs just worked his way back into the side. The number of runs heâs got in first-class cricket is incredible.
âAnd I met him during an IPL game. I said, âDonât just bang the door. Just kick it down and make your way in and walk into that sideâ. And I think heâs done just that. Just the number of runs that heâs got has made the selectors look in that direction and give him a place,â Shastri added.
In terms of bowling, Shastri prefers three pacers considering the conditions in Leeds.
âI know itâll be a tough one between Shardul (Thakur) and Nitish Reddy, but you have to see who bowls how much. If Reddy is going to give you 12, 14 overs, then he might get the nod because of his batting.
âAnd the three fast bowlers would be, I would go with Prasidh Krishna, I would go with Mohammed Siraj and of course Jasprit Bumrah.
âIn Leeds, if itâs overcast and itâs cloudy, there might be the temptation of going with the left-arm Arshdeep Singh as well. So it will be Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep, but the other two will be Siraj and Bumrah.â India last won a Test series in England in 2007.
(inputs from PTI)
