Former India cricketer Suresh Raina reckons that wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson or Sai Sudharsan will be the wise picks to bat at number three in Tests after the Men in Blue suffered a batting collapse in the second Test match against South Africa in Tests.
Notably, India failed to chase down 124 runs in the first Test match against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata as the Temba Bavuma-led side defeated them by 30 runs to take 1-0 lead in the two-Test match series.
Suresh Raina on India's No. 3 batter in Tests
In both Test matches, India reshuffled their batting orders as Washington Sundar batted at number three in the opener Test, and in the Guwahati Test, Sai came to bat at number three. However, in the exclusive chat with Sports Tak, 2011 World Cup-winning captain Suresh Raina said that he said that India needs a solid player for number three, like Cheteshwar Pujara or Virat Kohli.
"I feel that they thought a player could bat above Shubman Gill, they tried Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar. I feel the team was looking for combinations. Things will get sorted when Shubman rejoins the squad, but still, I feel Sanju Samson is the right option to bat at number three because you see you have Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul on top. You need a solid player for Number 3 like Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli. Sai Sudharsan and Sanju Samson are two players who can be used as a number three batter" Suresh Raina exclusively told Sports Tak.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Virat Kohli reaches Mumbai ahead of three-match ODI series against South Africa
Samson vs Sudharsan
Samson, who finally cemented his spot in India's T20I squad after Rohit and Virat's retirements yet to make his Test debut. On the other hand, Sai Sudharsan made his Test debut against England earlier this year and featured in five Test matches where he scored 273 runs with a highest score of 87, including two half-centuries.
India on the verge of series whitewash vs South Africa
Team India, who lost the first Test match against South Africa by 30 runs, are on the verge of series whitewash as the hosts need to chase down 522 runs on the last day of the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati