With India embracing a Test transition from the forthcoming five-match series in England onwards, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has made his pick for India’s key No. 3 position as skipper Shubman Gill is slated to take over the No. 4 position vacated after Virat Kohli’s retirement.
Clarke has picked Tamil Nadu sensation Sai Sudharsan to be drafted directly to take over the slot when Gill slides one spot down from No. 3 starting June 20 in Headingley.
“To me, this kid is a superstar, Sai Sudharsan. I think he is a number three in Test cricket. I think he is probably going to open the batting in time in India’s T20I and ODI team. He is in their Test squad. He gets his first opportunity in England,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.
The left-handed Sudharsan had a dream IPL season with the Gujarat Titans. Outscoring his captain Gill, Sudharsan topped the batting charts in the league, winning the Orange Cap after slamming 759 runs in 15 matches. Averaging 54.21 with a strike rate of 156.17, Sudharsan notched up a century and six fifties as the Titans finished fourth in the Playoffs.
Despite holding a sub-40 average in First-Class cricket, Clarka has backed Sudharsan to fit in well at number three for India.
“I think he can walk in straight to bat at number three. I think technically he’s very good, he’s got all the shots and mentally, he’s ready. He really impressed me and he’s a good looking player as well,” Clarke said.
Sudharsan won the Emerging Player of the Season award in the IPL 2025 edition and has previously appeared in two County stints with Surrey between 2023-24.
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In his last outing for the side, Sudharsan cracked his maiden First-Class century in English conditons while batting at No. 6. Overall, the 23-year-old averages 39.93 for 1957 runs in 29 FC outings since his debut in 2022
