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Ravi Shastri sees Sai Sudharsan as a prospect for all formats and eyes him for the England Test series after IPL 2025, also suggesting Arshdeep Singh for red-ball cricket.
Sai Sudharsan is on top of Ravi Shastri’s wish list for the England Tests squad (Picture credit: BCCI)
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has said that he sees star batter Sai Sudharsan as a prospect for all formats of the game, and he seems like a class player, adding that Shastri would have an eye on him to see if he can catch the flight to England, for the five-Test series after IPL 2025.
After the 3-1 series defeat in Australia at the start of 2025, there were calls for the inclusion of fresh faces in the red-ball setup to reinvigorate the team ahead of the high-profile Test tour of England.
Speaking on the latest episode of ICC Review, Shastri said that he would like to see Sudharsan in the Indian Test squad after his standout form in IPL 2025.
“I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game. He seems like a class player, and my eyes would certainly be on him. Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he’ll be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side,” Shastri said.
Sudharsan brings valuable experience in English conditions, having played for Surrey in the County Championship for the past two years.
Shastri wants to see a left-arm pacer in the team for the conditions expected in England and pointed out Arshdeep Singh as someone who can fit the bill and should not be restricted to white-ball cricket.
“I’ll be looking for a left-armer. I’ll be keeping an eye on which left-armer is in good form and try and squeeze him in there as the sixth (bowling) option. It could be anyone. It could even be a white-ball specialist,” Shastri said.
“I don’t like this thing when they say someone like Arshdeep Singh is a ‘white-ball specialist’. I’ll keep a close eye on his red-ball record as well and the number of overs he bowls,” Shastri added.
Arshdeep has shown promise in first-class cricket, bagging 66 wickets in 21 first-class games.
India play England in five Tests starting June 20 at the Headingley Carnegie.
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