Ravi Shastri has called for the inclusion of Sai Sudharsan in India’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in England. Ravi Shastri believes that the 23-year-old Gujarat Titans star has the potential to be a key player for India in all three formats of the game.
Following India’s disastrous performance against New Zealand and Australia, which ended their hopes of making the ICC World Test Championship Final, there have been discussions about introducing fresh faces to revitalize the red-ball setup.
Ravi Shastri calls for Sai Sudharsan’s Test selection for the England tour
And the former Indian head coach has been impressed by Sudharsan’s performances in the ongoing IPL 2025 and backed the youngster to make his Test debut on the England tour. Shastri sees Sudharsan as a valuable asset for the future of Indian cricket.
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Ravi Shastri told The ICC Review, “I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game. He seems like a class player, and my eyes would be on him certainly.”
Sudharsan already has experience of the English conditions, having played for Surrey in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024. In just five matches, the left-hander scored 281 runs, including a century and a fifty, which proves he can handle the challenges of English pitches.
Ravi Shastri reveals why Sai Sudharsan should get India call-up for England Tests
Additionally, Sai’s record in red-ball cricket is also impressive. He has so far amassed 1957 runs in 29 first-class matches at an average close to 40. He also scored a double-century for Tamil Nadu against Delhi in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy.
Given these factors, the former Indian captain and commentator said that Sudharsan, who has a solid technique, is a strong option for India, especially as the selectors look for fresh talent for the upcoming England tour, starting with the first Test on June 20 in Birmingham.
He added, “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.”
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Ravi Shastri bats for left-arm pacers in India’s Test squad for England tour
Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri believes that India should include a left-arm fast bowler for the upcoming Test series in England, where the conditions often favor pace and swing. The former head coach picked Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed as strong options.
Arshdeep has done well in red-ball cricket, taking 66 wickets in 21 first-class games. He recently turned up for Kent in the 2024 County Championship, where he picked up 13 wickets in five matches, and these games gave the pacer good exposure to English conditions.
On the other hand, Khaleel Ahmed has also been impressive in red-ball cricket, taking 52 wickets in 19 first-class matches. And Shastri feels a left-arm pace option could bring balance to India’s bowling attack for the crucial Test series in England.
‘You need a left-armer’
Shastri explained, “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. You need a left-armer; go and find him, whoever he is, and whoever is the best of the lot—pick him. There’s Khaleel Ahmed, who again, his rhythm is good; he’s bowling well. So, it’s important to get that mix.”
The former coach also feels Shreyas Iyer can make a comeback to the Test side for the England tour. Shastri signed off by saying, “He can make a comeback, but it’s again going to be a competition. White-ball, certain. Test cricket, we’ve got to see who the other players are around.”