• Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudarshan, who was the highest run-scorer in IPL 2025, is gearing up for his possible Test debut against England starting June 20.

• After the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, young players like Sudarshan will face the challenge of England’s fast bowling attack.

• Former England cricketer Alec Stewart praised Sudarshan’s technique and shot variety, predicting a strong performance in the upcoming series.

The Duke Ball Advantage

• Stewart revealed that after playing county cricket for Surrey last year, Sai Sudarshan took home some Duke balls (used in England) and practiced with them.

• This is crucial because the Duke ball swings more than the Kookaburra (used in Australia) and SG ball (used in India), making it harder to bat against in England.

• Practicing with the Duke ball gives Sudarshan a unique edge to tackle swinging deliveries in the WTC Final and Test series.

Sai Sudarshan’s Credentials

• Sudarshan has played 3 ODIs and 1 T20 for India, scoring 127 ODI runs with two half-centuries.

• In first-class cricket, he has scored 1957 runs in 29 matches at an average close to 40, including 7 centuries.

• In IPL 2025, he scored 759 runs in 15 matches, earning the Orange Cap and the Emerging Player of the Season award.

What to Expect

• Sudarshan’s experience with the Duke ball and his strong form in IPL make him a promising prospect for India’s Test team, especially in challenging English conditions.

• His debut in the Test series could add firepower to India’s batting lineup as they take on England.