Rain Can't Stop Sai Sudharsan From Shadow Batting Ahead Of 4th Test
Sai Sudharsan practices batting in the rain at Old Trafford ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester.
Sai Sudharsan was spotted going through the motions of batting at the crease even as rain poured down at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.
India trail England 1-2, ahead of the fourth Test of the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
As India gears up for the crucial Test in Manchester, all attention will be on captain Shubman Gill and his reliance on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah's ability to turn games with short, sharp spells could be pivotal. With Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy out due to injuries, India is likely to bring back B. Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, while Prasidh Krishna or uncapped sensation Anshul Kamboj might be considered as the third seamer. Kamboj made headlines last Ranji season by taking all ten wickets in an innings. The conditions may also favour seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur over off-spinner Washington Sundar.
India's batting unit blends youth, determination, and current form. Yashasvi Jaiswal remains consistent, KL Rahul returns to open, and Gill leads the side from No. 4. However, Rishabh Pant's form is under scrutiny. After a costly mistake at Lord's and a courageous, injury-hit knock, the wicketkeeper-batter has had time to recover, but his fitness and mindset remain uncertain heading into the Test.
India has previously come back from 0-2 deficits—in 1974-75 and 1977-78—but lost both deciders. This Test offers a chance to change history. England, on the other hand, knows they've only once failed to convert a 2-0 lead into a series win—back in 1936–37 when Don Bradman led a remarkable comeback.
Ben Stokes returns fresh after a brief break and leads a battle-hardened England side. Jofra Archer impressed with genuine pace despite limited game time over the past four years. With Shoaib Bashir sidelined by injury, Liam Dawson returns to the Test fold after eight years, buoyed by strong domestic form—three ten-wicket hauls and 12 five-fors since 2021.
Zak Crawley continues to evolve; once a fearless stroke-maker, he now shows discipline, though his average is dipping. Joe Root, ever-reliable, is nearing Ricky Ponting's all-time run tally, needing just 120 more to become the second-highest run-getter in Test history.
The Manchester pitch promises bounce and pace, but early showers on days one and two could impact proceedings.
Location :
Manchester
First Published:
July 22, 2025, 23:05 IST
News cricket Watch | Rain Can't Stop Sai Sudharsan From Shadow Batting Ahead Of 4th Test
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