NEW DELHI: Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on India’s top-order batting conundrum, questioning the team management’s decision to push Karun Nair to No. 3 in the second and third Tests of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. According to Ashwin, the move was a tactical misstep that disrupted the mindset of a player who has not batted in that position before.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. After batting at No. 6 in the opening Test at Headingley, Nair was promoted to No. 3 in Birmingham and Lord’s but failed to make an impact, leading to his exclusion for the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Ashwin instead heaped praise on Sai Sudharsan, who replaced Nair and made a composed 61 off 151 balls on Day 1 of the Manchester Test. “Credit to Sai Sudharsan, because it is not easy being a youngster after getting dropped and with India 1-2 behind in the series to come into the fourth Test and respond the way he did. I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future to be able to give a bit of solidity for the team,” Ashwin said.
Poll
Was promoting Karun Nair to No. 3 a tactical misstep by the team management?
Comparing Sudharsan to stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, Ashwin said, “He showed that sort of solidity. He was able to leave the ball. He earned the right to score those runs. I am a bit upset because I am a huge well-wisher of him. He could have scored a hundred.”India ended Day 1 at 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur unbeaten. Ashwin also pointed out a technical flaw in Sudharsan’s game, suggesting England missed a trick. “One thing that will give him trouble early on is the ball coming back in from over the stumps. Shardul Thakur dismissed him in that fashion in a Ranji Trophy final.”
Ashwin concluded by underlining the mental strength Sudharsan showed. “What a fine, fine knock for somebody playing in his second Test. He was technically equipped and mentally strong. There was no need to drop him earlier.”
