Sai Sudharsan justified the faith shown in him by head coach Gautam Gambhir with a stylish 81 on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The left-handed batsman, who was handed a Test cap after Gambhir's public assurance, looked composed at the crease and played some delightful strokes en route to his third Test half-century.
Steady partnership with KL Rahul
Sudharsan shared a crucial partnership with KL Rahul, who also looked in good touch. The duo added valuable runs for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings after an early wicket. Sudharsan's innings was marked by crisp driving through the off-side and solid defense against the spinners.
Gambhir's promise pays off
Earlier, Gambhir had stated that Sudharsan would be given a long run in the Test side, and the young batter repaid that trust with a mature knock under pressure. His ability to rotate strike and find boundaries at regular intervals kept the scoreboard moving.
The BCCI shared a video of Sudharsan bringing up his half-century, with the caption: "Sai Sudharsan brings up his 3rd Test half-century! He also completes a ?-run stand with KL Rahul."
India will look to build on this solid start as the match progresses, with Sudharsan's innings providing the foundation for a big total.
