'Communication with selectors was clear': Sai Sudharsan embraces opener role as India A set Australia A 363 target

PUDUCHERRY: Sai Sudharsan, playing as an opener, followed up his first-innings 57 with a 39 on Thursday as India ‘A’ set Australia ‘A’ a target of 363 to win the first unofficial Test here on Thursday. At stumps on Day 3, Australia ‘A’ were 55-2 on a pitch where the ball is turning and keeping low. Sudharsan, coming back from a right-toe stress fracture, has all but lost his India No. 3 slot to Devdutt Padikkal, who also scored 59 on Thursday. The TN batter is being seen as the third opener for the Indian team and he confirmed that the selectors had already communicated their plans to him. “Since Day 1 here, even in Sri Lanka, I opened in the ‘A’ series. So, the communication with the selectors was clear that I am going to open in this series. That’s about it,” Sudharsan said.

Asked whether batting at the top of the order feels different from coming in at No. 3, he said: “It’s not a very big difference for me. But I enjoy doing both. I just open a lot, so it’s becoming natural for me to face the new ball,” he said. “I’ve opened quite a lot for Tamil Nadu and even in age-group cricket. So, it’s not something new.” Sudharsan looked well set in the second innings before falling for 39 while attempting a sweep against Todd Murphy.

Brief scores: India ‘A’ 334 & 199 (D Padikkal 59, K Kushagra 46*, S Sudharsan 39; T Murphy 4-48); Australia ‘A’ 171 & 55-2

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