Follow UsAs India gear up for a new chapter in Test cricket with the upcoming five-match series in England without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, former Australian captain Michael Clarke has put his weight behind Tamil Nadu’s Sai Sudharsan for a direct entry into the playing XI.
With Shubman Gill set to take over the No. 4 slot vacated following Virat Kohli’s retirement, the No. 3 position becomes a crucial pivot in India’s batting order. And Clarke believes Sudharsan is ready for the responsibility.
“To me, this kid is a superstar, Sai Sudharsan. I think he is a number three in Test cricket. I think he is probably going to open the batting in time in India’s T20I and ODI team. He is in their Test squad. He gets his first opportunity in England,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.
The 23-year-old had a phenomenal IPL 2025 season with Gujarat Titans, finishing as the league’s top run-scorer and winning the Orange Cap. With 759 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.17, Sudharsan outshone even his captain Gill.
Sudharsan also claimed the Emerging Player of the Season award in IPL 2025 and has shown promise in red-ball cricket during his two County stints with Surrey across 2023 and 2024. In his most recent appearance for Surrey, the left-hander struck his maiden First-Class hundred in English conditions while batting at No. 6. Since making his First-Class debut in 2022, Sudharsan has featured in 29 games, scoring 1957 runs at an average of 39.93.
“I think he can walk in straight to bat at number three. I think technically he’s very good, he’s got all the shots, and mentally, he’s ready. He really impressed me, and he’s a good looking player as well,” Clarke said.