India A in Australia: Sai Sudharsan continues golden form, hits hundred in Mackay
Sai Sudharsan is making all the right noises in the lead-up to India’s tour of Australia.
Batting for India A in their first unofficial Test match against Australia A in MacKay, Sai led India’s fight In the second innings with a well-compiled hundred. Sai Sudharsan top scored for India A in challenging conditions, scoring his seven first-class hundred. Sai’s 103 combined with Devdutt Padikkal’s 88 helped Indai post a total in excess of 300 and stretch their lead beyond 200 runs on Day 3.
Sai Sudharsan celebrated his hundred on Day 3 morning. He got to the landmark, his first hundred on Australian soil, with a quick single against off-spinner Todd Murphy.
Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for 103 by the off-spinner as India A suffered a mini collapse after a 196-run partnership for the third wicket. Murphy dismissed Sai and Devdutt in successive overs as India A went from 226 for 2 to 256 for 5.
Middle-order batters Baba Indrajith (6), Ishan Kishan (32) and all-rounder Nitish Reddy (17) failed to convert their starts into big knocks in the second innings for India A. Earlier in the Test, Mukesh Kumar’s sensational six-wicket haul helped India A fight back with the ball.
Sai Sudharsan’s exemplary form is unlikely to go unnoticed as India look for back-up options for the top-order roles. Sai might be asked to stay back in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting November 22.
India picked Abhimanyu Easwaran as the back-up opener, but the Bengal star failed in both the innings of the first unofficial Test in MacKay.
3 HUNDREDS IN 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Sai Sudharsan has scored as many as three hundreds in first-class cricket in three different countries in the last three months.
One of the highlights of his current form was his maiden double hundred in the Ranji Trophy. Playing for Tamil Nadu against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Sudharsan scored 213 while opening the batting for his state. Sudharsan was at his free-flowing best against a high-quality Delhi attack in the second round of the premier domestic tournament.
In addition to his Ranji Trophy performance, Sudharsan has also made significant contributions in the Duleep Trophy. Representing Team C under Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sudharsan had a mixed start to the tournament but came into his own with a century in the third round against India C. He scored 111 runs, demonstrating his ability to perform under different conditions and batting positions.
Sudharsan’s stint with Surrey in the English County Championship further underscored his adaptability and skill. In August 2023, he signed for Surrey for the final three matches of the 2023 County Championship and made a notable impact. He scored a century against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, hitting 105 runs including 10 fours and a six, facing 176 balls.