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Tamil Nadu’s Sai Sudharsan is set to be named as the third opener for the upcoming England Test series, following a string of durable performances in the domestic circuit, a source told CricBlogger. It is understood that the selectors are likely to go with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the primary opening pair, with Sai likely to be included as a backup option.
And why not? Sai has been in impressive form in the IPL, consistently scoring runs with a calm and mature approach at the top order for Gujarat Titans. His performances, especially under pressure, have made him a standout young Indian batter this season.
In another key development, KL Rahul — who previously opened in Australia — is expected to slot into the middle order, potentially taking the place of Rishabh Pant in the playing XI from the opening Test. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, is set to bat at No. 3, maintaining his position as the team’s one-down batter.
The last time India contested a Test (against Australia) was at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Rohit Sharma was rested from the XI. In the preceding match in Melbourne, Gill was surprisingly left out to accommodate Rohit as the opener.
The selectors are also facing a complex balancing act while shaping the Test XI and leadership group. Rohit remains the most viable captaincy option due to his experience and composure, especially given the lack of a clear successor. Rahul’s strong form makes his exclusion difficult, but with Pant returning and the opening slots settled with Rohit and Gill, Rahul may only get in as a middle-order alternative if Pant is dropped.
Leadership-wise, while Bumrah is a natural senior figure, his workload as a strike bowler rules out long-term captaincy. Jaiswal and Gill are still emerging talents, and the team may not want to burden them with leadership yet. Rahul’s absence from IPL captaincy could signal limited trust in his leadership in high-stakes roles — at least for now
