Ravichandran Ashwin lauds Sai Sudharsan after his impressive ODI debut for India against South Africa

In a thrilling debut for Team India, Tamil Nadu's promising batter, Sai Sudharsan, marked his entry into the international cricket arena during the first leg of the 3-match ODI series against South Africa. Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg witnessed a memorable moment as stand-in skipper KL Rahul handed Sudharsan the prestigious Indian cap before the toss, signalling his induction into the national squad.

The young talent received commendations from fellow Tamil Nadu cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who had been vocal in support of Sudharsan's potential, previously lauding his selection into India's ODI squad. Taking to social media, Ashwin shared insights into Chennai-born cricketer's journey, tracing his career's upward trajectory.

“Like Mozhi MS Bhaskar ( movie reference ), I have been repeatedly telling this about Sai Sudharsan. 'Mark my words, this boy will go places’ Ever since his 2021 TNPL debut, he hasn't looked back. Keep chasing excellence, my boy #TeamIndia #INDvSA,” Ashwin wrote on ‘X’.

Sudharsan proved his mettle in domestic circuit with spectacular outings

Sai Sudharsan's ascent to the national team followed noteworthy performances in domestic and franchise cricket. Making his IPL debut for Gujarat Titans in 2022, he gained attention during the 2023 IPL season, where his standout innings of 96 runs in the final against CSK bolstered Gujarat's total to a record-setting 214 runs, yet CSK emerged victorious in the summit clash. Across the season, he had amassed an impressive tally of 362 runs at an average of 51.71.

The 22-year-old's consistency dazzled brightly in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023, notably highlighted by his commanding 125-run innings against Goa. His stellar form for India A in the Emerging Nations Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka further solidified his case, impressing selectors with his remarkable performances. The left handed batter's inclusion in the national side comes as a testament to his burgeoning talent and consistent displays across various cricketing platforms.