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India head coach Gautam Gambhir has basically thrown his support, behind Sai Sudharsan, ahead of the one off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, and sure the timing is kind of rough too. The young batter walks in with a lot of pressure, on his shoulders, no doubt.

 

Sudharsan was with Gujarat Titans in the IPL just a few days ago, and he was part of that final on May 31. Then, switching from T20 cricket to Test cricket in such a short span is never really smooth, especially when someone is still trying to properly establish themselves in the longest version of the game.

 

The left-handed batter had yet another impressive IPL cycle, piling up more than 700 runs. Yes, that should give him some confidence, but Test cricket is a whole different beast, and the challenge feels more technical and more mental, at the same time.

 

Gambhir Believes Sudharsan Deserves More Time

 

Even with some questions hanging around Sudharsan’s Test record, Gambhir feels the youngster has been short on opportunities, like not enough to fully prove things. He sounded pretty direct about it, in his comments.

 

Gambhir said:

 

"Honestly, Sai hasn't got a fair chance. He has only played a handful of Test matches, and he started his Test career in England, which we all know is not the easiest place [to bat in]. He has had a phenomenal run in the IPL as well, and we have got to give him a fair chance."

 

Sai Sudharsan began his Test journey in England last year, and he played three matches. In those games, he managed one half-century across six innings. After that, he did score another fifty against the West Indies, but consistency didn’t quite show up in the same way.

 

He was also involved in a Test against South Africa, where he got dismissed by spin in both innings. So, for now, his numbers read as just two fifties in 11 Test innings, which is why people keep talking.

 

Also Read | India vs Afghanistan Test: Where Are India’s 2018 Test Players Now?

 

Afghanistan Test Could Be a Turning Point

 

This upcoming Test might end up being a genuine pivot moment in Sudharsan’s career. India may not get many batting chances if the match ends fast, so every single run becomes important, really important.

 

Batting in the morning, against a fresh bowling attack, is a tough ask even when the opponent isn’t the most experienced side. Sudharsan will need to lean on patience, solid technique, and sharp decision-making, at the crease.

 

And look, while his IPL output showed he can play well in the white-ball setup, now he has an opening to show that he can handle the red-ball grind too, and not just survive but actually do damage when it counts.

 

Competition for Places Is Growing

 

For Sudharsan, one of the biggest hurdles isn’t only the opposition, it’s also the internal competition in the Indian team. There are several capable batters waiting in the wings, and the selectors seemingly have options for days.

 

If he has a poor showing, it might become hard for him to keep his spot, especially with names like Devdutt Padikkal pushing hard for a berth in the Test lineup.

 

So yes, this Afghanistan Test could be among the most crucial matches of his early international run. Gambhir has voiced support openly, but in the end, it’s the runs that will speak, right off the bat.

 

For Sudharsan, the Afghanistan game is more than just another fixture. It’s his chance to answer the doubts around his ability in Tests, and also to strengthen where he sits in India’s plans for the future. If he manages a big score, the whole conversation can swing fast, and it could hand him the kind of confidence he needs to keep moving forward in international cricket.