Team India could be set to reward Sai Sudharsan’s red-hot form with a maiden Test call-up, as reports suggest the Tamil Nadu left-hander is being considered as a backup opener for the upcoming five-match Test series against England post-IPL 2025. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are likely to continue at the top of the order.
Sai Sudharsan set for England vs India Tests
According to CricBlogger, selectors are likely to retain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the first-choice opening pair, but Sudharsan is emerging as the frontrunner to be their understudy. Sudharsan has ticked every box this season. He amassed 304 runs at an average of 76 in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, including a marathon innings of 213 against Delhi.
Fascinatingly, Sudharsan has also been in blazing touch in IPL 2025 — racking up 504 runs in just 10 matches for Gujarat Titans (GT) and currently ahead of many in the Orange Cap race. In fact, Sudharsan has been a cheat code in the IPL. Out of the 35 times he has batted in the league, Sudharsan has recorded single-digit scores just twice! That is some insane level of consistency.
Notably, his red-ball credentials aren’t limited to domestic cricket. Sudharsan has played county cricket for Surrey, gaining vital experience in English conditions, and notched a century for India A against Australia A in an unofficial Test, meaning he has the aptitude and technique to counter SENA conditions as well.
Given the horrible form Rohit Sharma showed on the Australian tour, it won’t be a surprise if Sudharsan also makes his debut in the whites for Team India. After all, he’s shown enough mettle in the IPL and domestic circuit. The reports for Sudharsan’s selection aren’t new either. Previously, InsideSport covered the same regarding the southpaw, Shreyas Iyer, and Rajat Patidar.
Sai Sudharsan IPL 2025 stats
| Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 504 | 82 | 50.40 | 154.12 | 5 | 55 | 16 |
England vs India Tests schedule
| Test | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | 20-24 Jun ’25 | Leeds |
| 2nd Test | 02-06 Jul ’25 | Birmingham |
| 3rd Test | 10-14 Jul ’25 | Lord’s |
| 4th Test | 23-27 Jul ’25 | Manchester |
| 5th Test | 31 Jul – 04 Aug ’25 | The Oval |
