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Cricketer-turned-pundit Deep Dasgupta wants India to drop Sai Sudharsan from their playing 11 for the 2nd Test against England.
Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for a four-ball duck in his first innings on Test debut (Picture credit: AP)
Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta wants India to make two changes in their playing 11 for the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England: dropping one-Test-old Sai Sudharsan for Nitish Kumar Reddy and bringing in Kuldeep Yadav at number eight.
Sudharsan made his international debut in the first Test at Headingley. He got out strangled down the leg for a duck in the first innings and clipped an easy one to mid-wicket after looking good for 30 (48) in the second. Dasgupta believes that Sudharsan should make way for the more experienced Karun Nair at number three, while Reddy could supplement the pace attack from number six.
“In general, you don’t want to make too many changes after the first game, but you have also got to think this is a very young side. It’s a new captain, newish side. So you have got to get the combination right. Karun Nair has got most of his runs at No. 3. Also, he batted for India A against the England Lions at No. 3,” the former India wicketkeeper-batter said on Star Sports, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
“So you might want to look at Karun Nair at No. 3,” he added. That opens up a space for someone like Nitish at No. 6, who, if required, can give you a few overs of seam. I will have a chat with Sai Sudharsan and say this is not a reflection of what happened in the first Test, but this is a combination things. So that conversation becomes very, very important, how you put it across to someone like Sai.”
The bigger point of concern in Headingley was Shardul Thakur. Picked as an all-rounder, he contributed 1 and 4 with the bat and was trusted to bowl just 16 overs from more than 182.
Dasgupta feels Kuldeep at number eight would be free of any batting responsibilities because the top-order is in form.
“Looking forward to Birmingham, which is usually a batting-friendly venue, I would love to see Kuldeep there. The advantage of having a top five amongst runs is that you are not too worried about contribution from your No. 8 with the bat,” he said.
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