New Delhi, Oct 8 (NationPress) The Indian team management is hopeful that B. Sai Sudharsan will soon showcase his immense potential, according to assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate ahead of the upcoming second Test against the West Indies, scheduled to start at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this Friday.

This match could be crucial for the Chennai-born left-handed batsman, who has had a slow start to his Test career, accumulating only 147 runs in seven matches, with a solitary fifty to his name. Sudharsan’s recent dismissal in Ahmedabad, where he fell lbw for just seven runs to a straight delivery from Roston Chase, was a missed chance on a relatively easy pitch against a modest West Indies bowling attack.

“It might be premature to be concerned or anxious. The challenge is that after five Test matches in the UK, there’s a six-week hiatus before the next Test. Without a continuous series, maintaining rhythm becomes difficult,” added ten Doeschate.

He further elaborated, “This is the nature of modern Test cricket, and Sudharsan must adapt. He knows he has our support, and the captain's backing. It’s still early days for him.”

As Sudharsan approaches his 24th birthday, the pressure mounts for him to secure his position at number three, given the competitive nature of Indian cricket’s selection process, highlighted by the cases of Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair.

Moreover, he faces competition from players like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Rajat Patidar. Within the squad, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, and even Washington Sundar are also potential contenders for the Test number three spot.

“He is fully aware of the competitive environment and the need to fight for his spot. Karun Nair played only four Tests in England, highlighting the fierce competition for those positions. Sai needs to trust in himself,” said ten Doeschate.

“We want him to have confidence in claiming that number three spot. He has been batting well, though he made a tactical error early in his innings. Our goal is to back him because we know his capabilities. Now it’s time for him to demonstrate that he can maintain his position.”

“There’s no need for panic, especially within a winning team, which offers some breathing room. Sudharsan has four innings to prove himself, having only missed one in the first Test. He has two more Tests to solidify his performance,” ten Doeschate elaborated.

With Rishabh Pant set to return for the series against South Africa next month and Jurel impressing with both bat and gloves, Sudharsan's position is under increasing scrutiny. If Jurel is promoted in the batting order to maintain his spot, could a standout performance in New Delhi help Sudharsan’s chances?

“A strong performance would certainly help. Dhruv showcased his talent last week, and the competition for the top three or four positions remains intense – Shubman has solidified his place at number four, so Sai is aware of the stakes,” ten Doeschate mentioned.

“In Indian cricket, one must expect such competition and scrutiny from the media. It’s part of the profession, and players need to be resilient. I believe that Sudharsan will soon find his form and score the runs necessary to secure his position.”

During practice, Sudharsan appeared relaxed, engaging in warm-up football before focusing on slip catching, short leg practice, and fitness drills.

“Jaiswal is an excellent slip fielder. He overcame his early challenges in England, which is typical for a young player. KL has one position secured,” ten Doeschate noted.

“Sai is also a reliable catcher, and Devdutt has shown great catching skills as well. We aim to have five or six strong catchers in the team. Last week, we saw promising catches from Nitish and Yashasvi.

When it came to batting practice, Sudharsan requested throwdowns against the semi-new ball, indicating his desire to refine his batting techniques and footwork.

Ten Doeschate praised Jurel, who recently scored his first Test century in Ahmedabad and performed well behind the stumps. During practice, Jurel excelled in his wicketkeeping drills and worked on his aggressive batting against spinners.

“We are pleased with his progress. Even during tours in England and Australia, we are eager to integrate him into matches, recognizing his talent. With Rishabh injured, this opportunity allows Jurel to showcase his skills as a wicketkeeper,” he concluded.