“Sai Sudharsan is feeling a bit of pressure” - Ex-Indian keeper-batter

Former Indian keeper-batter Parthiv Patel has opened up on the Indian No.3 batter Sai Sudharsan’s form, stating that he is feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure his position in Tests after his early dismissal on Day 1 against the West Indies.

Speaking on JioHotstar, the former cricketer observed that Sudharsan needs to stay calm at the crease and instead focus on rotating his strike. Moving into the details of his dismissal on Day 1, Sudharsan got one skidding on to the middle and hit his back pad right in front, and the umpire was quick to raise his finger. 

"Sai Sudharsan looked a bit tentative today. He usually uses his feet really well, especially against left-arm spinners. With left-handed batters, we know that as soon as a left-arm spinner comes in, we try to rotate the strike and wait for the right ball to go after. But I thought Sai Sudharsan was probably feeling a bit of pressure to score big runs and secure that number three position. He just needs to stay calm,” Parthiv Patel said on JioHotstar.

Meanwhile, the Indian veteran opening batter, KL Rahul, was unbeaten on 53 off 114 balls with six fours at stumps on Day 1 as he stitched a 60-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening stand.

It’s worth noting that Rahul came into this Test on the back of an exceptional, unbeaten 176-run knock against Australia A in the second unofficial Test earlier last month in Lucknow. Parthiv heaped praise on Rahul for staying strong and continuing his good form from the England tour against the West Indies. 

"KL Rahul was outstanding today; he carried on his form from the England tour. Before that series, there were concerns about his form, but I thought he took responsibility really well. It's very important when a team is going through a transition that your senior players step up, and that's exactly what KL Rahul did in England. Today, as well, he played the situation really well. The West Indies opening bowling pair was disciplined, and KL gave them the respect they deserved. He gave himself that time to settle, and once he was set, we saw him using his feet and rotating the strike,” he added.

"He looks much more in control and settled now. I think that hundred against Australia A also gave him a lot of confidence, because when you head into a Test series after scoring so many runs, it makes a difference. It's been an outstanding year for KL Rahul, his second-best after 2017. I think he will surpass that record this year because he is looking in very good shape,” he concluded.

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