India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has highlighted a specific technical issue in young Sai Sudharsan’s game after his dismissal for 87 runs. Kotak is now dedicated to refining this aspect with the promising cricketer, who is known for his mental toughness.
India’s Sai Sudharsan (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
On the opening day of the second Test match between India and West Indies at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Sudharsan played a masterful innings of 87 off 165 balls. However, his stay at the crease ended when he was caught playing off the back foot against a turning delivery from vice-captain Jomel Warrican.
The dismissal saw Sudharsan cramped for room, leading to him being caught in front of the stumps. After India’s strong performance on day one, Kotak elaborated on the incident, particularly given Sudharsan’s reputation as an adept player of spin bowling.
“Sai, coming from Tamil Nadu, frequently plays on turning pitches, which makes him quite proficient against spin. He has a distinctive back-foot game and plays certain shots that many others wouldn’t, or he navigates balls on the back foot that most players would handle on the front foot,” Kotak explained. “The main point of our discussion is that sometimes he attempts to play very full deliveries off the back foot. We’re actively working to eliminate that habit, and he’s fully aware of it and putting in the effort.”
Sudharsan, who earned his first Test cap in England earlier this year, had accumulated 147 runs across seven innings prior to this match. His recent dip in form had led to some questions regarding his position in the Test squad.
After the early departure of KL Rahul at 58/1, Sudharsan partnered with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Their left-handed combination forged a crucial 193-run stand for the second wicket, significantly strengthening India’s control over the match.
Kotak further praised the young batsman: “We all recognize Sai’s immense talent. Often, you look beyond just the score to appreciate how a batsman is playing, how they construct their innings, and the variety of shots they employ. While anyone can have an off day or two, Sai batted brilliantly today. He’s mentally very resilient; you’ll never see him under pressure or altering his natural playing style. He consistently bats on merit, and his performance today was a testament to that.”
Following Sudharsan’s dismissal, Jaiswal continued his attacking display. He remained unbeaten on a magnificent 173 runs from 253 deliveries, having already notched his seventh Test century and setting himself up for a potential third double-hundred in Test cricket.
Kotak added, “The sheer determination he showed was incredibly important to me. The ball came onto the new bat much better initially, and he also bowled his second fifty at a good pace. However, after about 60-65 overs, the ball didn’t come onto the bat as well. Despite that, he took sufficient time and didn’t miss a single shot.”
“He mentioned the same to me during tea time, indicating he felt he missed out on a big innings in the last match. So, his approach was absolutely brilliant. For me, the most significant aspect was his unwavering determination to convert his start into a substantial score. He’s still at the crease, and his ability to score 173 or 175 without always being overtly aggressive truly showcases the quality of his batting.”