India youngster Sai Sudharsan scored a fifty on his international debut against South Africa on December 17. The 22-year-old batter confidently played against the Proteas and scored an impressive 55 off 43 balls to lead India to a comprehensive victory in Johannesburg. The Men in Blue won by eight wickets in the first ODI after bowling them out for 116 at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Sudharsan could be a long-term player for the India team.
In an interview with Star Sports, Pathan expressed confidence in Sudharsan's potential and said that he could play for the India team in the next 10 to 15 years. The 39-year-old was impressed with Sudharsan’s temperament on debut and emphasised that he has shown no signs of nervousness.
"If someone bats like this on a South African pitch, you feel you have found someone who can play for the Indian team for the next 10-15 years. It is very early but still an exceptional start. The first four came off the first ball. So he started extremely well," Pathan said.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Sudharsan was selected on the back of strong performances and a standout performance in Indian domestic cricket. He scored 96 in the final of the IPL 2023 while playing for Gujarat Titans (GT).
"When you see him bat, he stays upright, plays the short ball well, uses his feet well, plays fast bowling and spin equally well off both the front and back foot, brings the sweep shot out, and then dances down the track to generate pace if a fast bowler doesn't have the pace. So it seems like he is extremely mature," Pathan further added on the batter.
India captain KL Rahul had also discussed the young India players ahead of the series. Rahul emphasised that the young players would receive support to reduce the pressure of playing international cricket.
(Inputs by India Today)
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