Sai Sudharsan’s debut in the first Test match between India and England at Headingley Stadium in Leeds was nothing less than a nightmare.
“IPL ka sher, Test me zero” – this line spread like fire on Twitter, when Sai returned to the pavilion without opening the account in just 4 balls.
England captain Ben Stokes laid a clever trap and got Sai caught out on the leg side. The anger and mockery of the fans dominated Twitter, but some also encouraged this young batsman.
Tough lesson of Test cricket
Sai Sudharsan, who scored 760 runs for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 and won the Orange Cap, was a complete flop in his Test debut. England’s strategy was to target Sai’s pads. Pressure was created by placing leg slip and leg gully fielders.
Sai tried to stop himself on the fourth ball, but a brilliant delivery from Ben Stokes got him caught by Jamie Smith.
Fans on Twitter immediately started joking – “IPL’s lion collapsed in Test!” But some fans also supported Sai, saying that this happens under pressure in debut.
India had a great start in the first session. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul made a solid partnership of 91 runs in 151 balls.
Both showed patience on the swinging and seaming pitch and troubled the England bowlers. But just before lunch, Brydon Carse dismissed KL Rahul (42) and then Sai’s wicket fell. India’s score remained 92/2 till lunch.
Uproar and support on Twitter
Sai’s duck created a ruckus on Twitter. Some fans wrote, “IPL’s run machine is a flop in Test!” Others questioned why Sai was picked over the likes of Dhruv Jurel and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
Also Read: IND vs ENG 2025: Bazball vs India’s New Era, Anticipating Key Cricket Clashes
One user wrote, “Ranji performance should be seen in Test cricket, not IPL!”
Still, many fans cheered Sai. One wrote, “Sai is a quality player, made a mistake under pressure. He will make a comeback in the second innings.”
Sai Sudarshan’s Test debut may have been a flop, but this is just the beginning. The 23-year-old batsman has performed brilliantly in Ranji.
