October 30, 2025

Bengaluru is buzzing as India A is all set to take on South Africa A in a thrilling four-day Test match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The spotlight is on Sai Sudharsan, a talented young batsman from Tamil Nadu who has quickly climbed the cricket ladder since his Ranji Trophy debut in 2022-23. Known for his calm and classy style, Sudharsan caught everyone's eye and earned a spot in India’s Test camp in England. But cricket fans know that tests bring pressure! With an average of just 21 runs from four tests, Sudharsan faced tough critics. Yet, in the recent Test against West Indies in New Delhi, he proved his mettle by smashing a confident 87 in the first innings and adding 37 runs in the second. What’s the secret behind this turnaround? The 24-year-old revealed that a special pep talk from India team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir made all the difference. Sudharsan said, "The support was impeccable." He shared, "Before the Delhi Test, after practice at Feroz Shah Kotla nets, I was the last to leave. GG sir (Gambhir) called me and said, 'You are not getting desperate, you are here because of many reasons. You are one of the best players in the country. So, do not think about any other things. Don't think that you have to score runs or what will happen if you don't.'" Those words lifted a huge weight off Sudharsan's shoulders. Gambhir also confirmed his place in the playing eleven, telling him, "You will play." This assurance gave Sudharsan confidence and freedom to focus on his game rather than worry about outside pressure. He explained, "The way he told gave me so much confidence and freedom. I was trying to be freer and not think about external factors. But when you hear it from the head coach, the perspective and environment change drastically." Sudharsan’s mindset shifted from just scoring runs to fighting for the team and dominating the match. He credited Gambhir's pep talk for helping him express himself better on the field, saying, "Even in that game [Delhi Test], I wasn't in a mindset just to get runs, I was in a mindset to fight and win and dominate for the team." With this fresh confidence, Sudharsan is ready to shine in India A’s upcoming challenge against South Africa A. The young star’s journey promises to be exciting, and cricket lovers can’t wait to see more of his magic bat!

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Tags: Sai sudharsan, India a, Gautam gambhir, Test cricket, West indies test, Cricket confidence,