With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series of Anderson-Temdulkar trophy against England and facing a growing injury list, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has called for a return to youth in the batting order, suggesting Sai Sudharsan should reclaim the No. 3 spot in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
His comments come as the Indian camp is not only searching for answers with the bat but also reeling from a spate of injuries to key squad members.
Manjrekar Bats For Sudharsan
The No. 3 conundrum has become a point of scrutiny after Karun Nair’s underwhelming returns in the last three Tests. Drafted in for Sudharsan after the series opener, Nair’s comeback hasn’t gone to plan. In six innings, the 32-year-old has managed just 131 runs at an average of 21.83, with a top score of 40.
While the selectors may have hoped his experience would solidify India’s top order, the runs haven’t followed.
Manjrekar, speaking on ESPNCricinfo, didn’t mince words about the decision to back Nair over Sudharsan. “Sai Sudharsan was always my No. 3 after the first Test match,” he said. “There was promise shown with 30 runs. And when you have flat pitches and one of England's weakest bowling attacks, you want to play a young player.”
His critique extended to the mindset of the team management, which he hinted might be digging in with a point to prove. “Karun Nair at No. 3—I didn’t agree with. Maybe the team management might just want to prove a point that we were backing the right horse and give him one more match. That’s something that happens with team management,” Manjrekar added. “But I would like to see Sai Sudharsan at No. 3.”
Sudharsan, 22, made his Test debut at Lord’s and, despite a duck in the first innings, looked far more composed in the second, scoring 30 in challenging conditions. With India struggling to chase down a modest target of 193 in the third Test at Leeds—a match they lost by 59 runs—the pressure to make changes has mounted.
Injury Concerns For India
Adding to the team’s headache is an escalating injury list. Promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the Manchester Test with a knee injury, while left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is also unavailable due to a hand injury. Seamer Akash Deep, who has impressed in the nets, remains doubtful after suffering a groin niggle.
The timing of these setbacks is far from ideal. The series is delicately poised, and Old Trafford offers one final opportunity for India to keep the contest alive. With Jasprit Bumrah expected to sit out again due to workload management, and injuries thinning out the bench strength, batting stability becomes even more crucial.
For Manjrekar and others advocating for a youth-first approach, the equation is simple: when the opposition attack is vulnerable and the pitches are benign, it's time to back emerging talent.
“Flat pitches, a tired attack, and a hungry young player—it’s the right moment,” Manjrekar’s remarks seem to underline. Whether the team management listens remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt the pressure is building—not just from England, but from within.
