“I’m really worried for Sai Sudharsan” – Indian legend’s huge statement on team selection after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Posted on 17/11/2025 by admin

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the team management’s long-term strategy after naming Washington Sundar at No. 3, sidelining Sai Sudharsan during the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Men in Blue took an unorthodox approach by including four spinners, with an all-rounder batting at No. 3, while the left-handed batter was once again benched.

Team India has been grappling with the No. 3 spot during this transition phase but has yet to settle on a reliable choice or provide a consistent run for any candidate. Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan were tried in the top order during the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Sudharsan had been locked in for the home series against the West Indies. Despite recording a promising 87 in the second Test against Roston Chase and company in Delhi, Sudharsan found himself dropped from the playing XI once again. Previously, he was excluded just after his debut at Headingley, Leeds, against England.

Ashwin expressed concern that the lack of consistent opportunities could undermine players’ confidence. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “I’m really worried for Sai Sudharsan, he is a good player. What would he be thinking after being dropped? I always feel that four spinners is too many to have in a team. Washington Sundar did not even bowl in the second innings. You play four spinners, then you don’t give a single over to one of them. These are all going to play into the confidence of the players.”

He added, “I know that in a T20I you tend to go with all-rounders, but specialists will work in Tests. In many ways, to create a lot of stability without insecurity, and giving people their roles are extremely crucial. These are crucial WTC points. India were looking prime to be in the final, because even Gill said at the toss that he will win one directly in the final. But we have to reach there first, and this match is a huge blow for that.”

Ashwin urged the team management to finalize their choice for the No. 3 batter and avoid changing it based on conditions. “He (Sundar) has the ability. But whether it is the right decision, only time can answer. We can speak about it and dissect it after a loss, but we have to give him time. I really think Sai Sudharsan has a good future. If we are to build the team around a No. 3, you need a No. 3 for that. See the batters that have played at No. 3, and there is stability required. If you are taking the Washington Sundar route, I hope you stick with Washi for a few years. The decision for the No. 3 batter cannot be fleeting, depending on the conditions,” he elaborated.

Washington Sundar delivered a decent performance on his maiden outing at No. 3 on a challenging wicket, scoring 29 and 31 in the first and second innings respectively. However, he bowled only one over throughout the match.

**India urged to focus on preparation ahead of second Test**

With a crucial second Test against South Africa looming, Team India faces multiple challenges. Shubman Gill’s injury and unavailability, along with the batters’ ongoing struggles against spin, have added to concerns as the hosts aim to avoid a second consecutive home series loss within 12 months.

Ravichandran Ashwin advised the Indian team to concentrate on preparation and building confidence rather than obsessing over pitch behavior. “The pressure is now all on India. If I am sitting in the South Africa dressing room, I will start looking downwards from now itself because there will be no bounce in Guwahati, and I will also be going in with a lot of smiles. India will be burning the midnight oil now. They will already be thinking about what wicket to prepare, what combination to play. I would say forget about the pitch, and focus on the practice and confidence. If we do that, I think we will come out okay. But if we continue to obsess over the pitch, I think we are in for another trouble-filled Test,” Ashwin concluded.

The second Test between India and South Africa will begin on Saturday, November 22, at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. This match will mark the first time the venue hosts an international red-ball game.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-i-m-really-worried-sai-sudharsan-indian-legend-s-huge-statement-team-selection-ind-vs-sa-2025-1st-test

3 reasons why MI trading in Shardul Thakur from LSG ahead of IPL 2026 would be the wrong move

Posted on 12/11/2025 by admin

Experienced Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur has become a subject of a potential trade deal involving the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the dying stages of the trading window. The 34-year-old is reportedly set for a switch ahead of the retention deadline set for Saturday, November 15. The player is currently leading Mumbai in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy campaign after being dropped from the Indian Test squad post the England tour. Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin broke the news while discussing MI’s potential releases ahead of the auction. “I don’t see MI releasing any player. Their only question would be around Deepak Chahar, who is a bit injury-prone. They have secured Shardul Thakur on a trade with LSG, that is done,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. On that note, let us take a look at three reasons why MI trading in Shardul Thakur from LSG ahead of IPL 2026 would be the wrong move. #1 Shardul Thakur has been off course in T20s for a while now Since his release from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after the triumphant 2021 campaign, Shardul Thakur has not lasted more than a single season with any franchise. His big money stints with both the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were uneventful, leading to his subsequent. The same story followed with his return to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as well in 2024. He was alarmingly unwanted by any franchise during the mega auction, and was a last-minute replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). It shows a lot as to how his graph has fallen with each subsequent year. Even his IPL 2025 campaign was nothing noteworthy as he ended with 13 wickets in 10 matches with an economy rate of 11. 02. There was a spark for him in T20s during the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, where he was the fourth-leading taker. However, even at his best, his economy read a 10. 51. As a result, with barely any positives apart from his familiarity with MI’s home venue, experience, and an erratic wicket-taking ability, a version of Shardul Thakur’s whose peak has already transpired, does not exactly come across as a shrewd MI signing. #2 MI already have several pace bowling all-rounder options in their side Almost all of the recent trades involving Shardul Thakur made sense to a certain extent since those franchises did not have the luxury of a pace bowling all-rounder, especially an Indian one, for the sake of balance and depth. However, for MI, who already have the No. 1-ranked T20 all-rounder in the world in Hardik Pandya, a reliable overseas pace bowling all-rounder in Corbin Bosch, and an emerging candidate in Raj Angad Bawa, this pursuit of Shardul Thakur makes very little sense. Even if MI considers him primarily as a bowling option, since he has batted only eight times across the last two seasons, the franchise have more than enough bowling depth to cover for Deepak Chahar and Jasprit Bumrah’s injury concerns. Emerging pacers like Ashwani Kumar and Satyanarayana Raju are more than enough cover for a short-term basis. #3 Auction pool might have been a better avenue for MI to build back up Even if MI are unsatisfied with the options they have in terms of depth or back-up, they always had the mini auction to bring in names instead of using the trade window. The player pool includes a vast variety of players of all kinds, traits, and age, and MI could have assessed those options, especially since it will have players that they scouted as per their core values. Granted, they might not have the biggest purse or a lot of slots available in the squad, but considering that they are not looking for outright first-team members, they could have taken the risk rather than jumping the gun with Shardul Thakur prior to the auction.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/3-reasons-mi-trading-shardul-thakur-lsg-ahead-ipl-2026-wrong-move

“I am happy with Surya’s 10-ball 20” – Legendary spinner’s huge statement on India’s captain knock in AUS vs IND 2025 4th T20I

Posted on 06/11/2025 by admin

Legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed satisfaction with skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s cameo in the fourth T20I of the five-match series against Australia. The match was held at Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday, November 6.

Asked to bat first, India finished at 167/8 in their 20 overs, with Shubman Gill top-scoring with 46 off 39 balls, including four fours and one six. Meanwhile, skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked in at No. 4 and made 20 off 10 balls, including two sixes.

In response, Washington Sundar took three wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 119 in 18.2 overs, losing the game by 48 runs.

Following the match, during a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin lauded Suryakumar’s timely knock and said:
“10 balls for 20 from Suryakumar Yadav was extremely valuable. I always think in T20 cricket, 10 balls for 20 at a 200 strike rate is more valuable because even today, Abhishek and Shubman had a decent partnership at the opening. So Surya came in and gave that amazing impetus and momentum. I would always think 10 balls for 20 is way more valuable than a strike rate of less than 125, 120, or 130 in a T20 game, unless, of course, you are chasing a game.”

He added, “If you’re chasing and players are going all out and blazing away, on one side you have to play in double gear, but today, with the wicket, everyone knows that 160 is a good score. So the way Shubman paced the innings, that’s the way he had to play, and he did that. So credit where it’s due, but I am happy with Surya’s 10-balls-20, what he could do, he did.”

Overall, in four games so far, Suryakumar has scored 84 runs at an average of 28.00 and a strike rate of 171.42.

**“Someone you cannot hit so easily” – R Ashwin heaps praise on India all-rounder**

In the same video, Ravichandran Ashwin praised Axar Patel, who won the Player of the Match award in the fourth T20I for his unbeaten 21 off 11 balls and for taking two wickets. The 39-year-old commended Axar’s bowling skills, saying:

“One thing I noticed about Axar is that batsmen are getting done on the inside, especially right-handers. Always, if you look at left-arm spinners bowling to right-handers, when they bowl quick, the ball comes inside like an arm ball. But for Axar, even when he bowls slower, the ball drops and comes in slowly like that.”

“Several times, Marsh tried to go over the covers, and Josh Inglis tried as well, but still the ball hit inside and went to the leg side.”

He continued, “So Axar’s beauty is in the changing of pace, but still not allowing the ball to go on the same line. Either the ball stops and spins a little, or the ball stops and comes inside on the same line. That makes it often a little tricky for the batsman, someone you cannot hit so easily.”

“The only challenge the Indian spin bowling attack might have in India is where the match is being played and how small the ground is. That is the only thing that will dictate how it goes,” he added.

India and Australia will return to action for the final T20I on Saturday, November 8, at The Gabba in Brisbane.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-i-happy-surya-s-10-ball-20-legendary-spinner-s-huge-statement-india-s-captain-knock-aus-vs-ind-2025-4th-t20i

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“I’m really worried for Sai Sudharsan” – Indian legend’s huge statement on team selection after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

3 reasons why MI trading in Shardul Thakur from LSG ahead of IPL 2026 would be the wrong move

“I am happy with Surya’s 10-ball 20” – Legendary spinner’s huge statement on India’s captain knock in AUS vs IND 2025 4th T20I