Sai Sudharsan Shines with Gritty Half-Century Amidst Tough Conditions

In the opening day of the fourth Test against England at Manchester, young Indian batter Sai Sudharsan delivered an impressive performance, scoring a vital half-century. Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Sudharsan's innings, highlighting the player's grounding and academic approach to the game that helped him thrive in challenging conditions.

Despite an initial bout of nerves stemming from his inconsistent debut and subsequent omission, Sudharsan's confidence grew as the innings progressed. The left-hander, who has a reputation for T20 prowess, demonstrated the disciplined technique necessary for Test matches, accumulating 61 runs from 151 balls with seven fours. This innings marks the first fifty by an Indian number three outside Asia since January 2022.

The 21-year-old came into the Test setting with impressive credentials from domestic circuits and the Indian Premier League, where he played a pivotal role for Gujarat Titans. India closed the first day on 264/4, as his contribution, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal's fifty, fortified the lineup amid a challenging day, with bonus contributions from Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja.

(With inputs from agencies.)