Rishabh Pant-led India will take on Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in the second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The team management has opted to bring back Sai Sudharsan, who was left out of the XI for the series opener, as the number three batsman in place of Washington Sundar.
Sudharsan achieved scores of 87 and 39 during the second Test against West Indies. However, the left-handed batsman has yet to really make an impact in Test cricket. The 24-year-old, who made his Test debut in England, has managed just two half-centuries in nine innings at a disappointing average of 30.33.
Sai Sudharsan replaces Washington Sundar at number 3 in the team chart
India made a change to their batting order, promoting Sai Sudharsan to No. 3 and pushing Washington Sundar down the lineup. Sundar had impressed in the first Test, yet he was listed at number 8 under Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy on the team sheet.
Sundar showed courage with scores of 29 and 31 on a tough pitch at Eden Gardens. He was India’s highest run-getter in the final innings while chasing 124 runs. The off-spinner had almost no role with the ball, sending over just one single in the first innings and none in the second.
India playing
India have tried several options at number 3, including Sai Sudharsan
Ever since Cheteshwar Pujara played his last Test in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final, the Indian team management has tried several players at the number three batting position. Shubman Gill was shifted from the opening role to number three after Pujara was dropped in mid-2023.
Senior player Virat Kohli briefly filled the position during a Test against New Zealand in 2024 due to Gill’s injury. Gill then moved himself down to number four after taking over the captaincy during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.
The team management also tried KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Karun Nair as makeshift options. Sai Sudharsan batted at No. 3 during the England tour but was later dropped from the playing XI. The young batsman returned to the position in the West Indies Series but lost his place in the Kolkata Test.
South Africa opts to bat after winning the toss in Guwahati
South Africa opted to bat after winning the toss. They went into the match with one change to their lineup. Senuran Muthusamy replaced Corbin Bosch in the playing XI. The visitors have a 1-0 lead in the series after beating India in just three days on a tight-turning pitch in Kolkata.
“We have to start again (after the win in Kolkata). This wicket is looking a lot better so we want to put up a big score. No cracks as such on the pitch,” Temba Bavuma said.
South Africa playing
Also read: BCCI releases complete player list for WPL 2026 mega auction; Deepti Sharma and Laura Wolvaardt among the big players
#Indias #madness #continues #Washington #Sundar #kicked #Sai #Sudharsan #returned #Guwahati #Test