Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara believes the upcoming Test series against South Africa will be crucial for Sai Sudharsan, who has shown plenty of promise but is yet to convert his starts into big scores in his short career.
At 24, Sudharsan is still in the early stages of his red ball journey. His technique and calm temperament have gained the confidence of Captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, but the numbers underscore the work he still has ahead of him. He has scored just 147 runs in seven innings so far with a solitary half-century, suggesting potential but lacking the consistency expected from India’s No.3.
“Yes, it will be an important series for Sai, but he is a young player who is maturing very quickly. He scored in England and did well against the West Indies, so he showed he has potential. Now it’s about turning his starts and making sure he doesn’t give away his wicket. There have been some light dismissals in England, so he will have to avoid getting a big score once and turn his first hundred into a big score. more confident.” said JioStar pundit Cheteshwar Pujara during a media interaction on the eve of South Africa’s first Test tour of India 2025.
Sudharsan, who made his England debut earlier this year, has two 50-plus scores to his name but has also been guilty of light dismissals, often leaving after hard work. On Tuesday, the left-hander spent almost the entire duration of India’s training session at the Eden Gardens batting intensively in preparation for the opening Test starting on Friday.
Sudharsan showed promise in the recent Test series against West Indies, scoring 87 and 39 in New Delhi. But on both occasions, he fell after settling in – India’s recurring pattern wants him to break. His return for India A against South Africa A in Bengaluru was also modest, just 84 runs in four innings.
In contrast, batsman Dhruv Jurel surged forward with strong performances. The 24-year-old hit unbeaten centuries – 132 and 127* – in both innings of the second four-dayer against South Africa A, saving India A from 126 for 7 in the first innings and making a strong case for a place in the senior XI.
COMPETITION BETWEEN JUREL vs SAI
While Sudharsan still enjoys the support of management at No. 3, Pujara noted that the competition is real and could affect his batting role.
“And it’s not just about the number three spot. It’s also about proving that he belongs in the playing XI, whether he continues at number three or shifts depending on the team’s requirements. At the moment, yes, he’ll probably continue at number three, but Dhruv Jurel has also shown a lot of potential. If Jurel starts scoring consistently, you might never know that Sai is on the bat.
Pujara added that Sudharsan’s left-handedness makes the No. 3 role even more important to India’s balance sheet.
“Since Sai is a left-hander, it will be key for him to stick at number three. When I played, the Indian team didn’t have too many left-handers in the top order, but now we have Yashasvi and Sai and they both play a key role in the XI. I hope Sai gets his first hundred soon. He has shown a lot of consistent potential and added that Pufulajar will be scoring.
Catch all the action from the first Test of South Africa’s tour of India 2025 from November 14, 9:30 am IST onwards, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 13, 2025
