Sai Sudharsan Joins Unwanted List After 4-Ball Duck on Test Debut

Sai Sudharsan inclusion in team India ahead of the England tour delighted the fans as the left hander impressed one and all in the IPL 2025. His domestic career wasn't impressive, with a first-class average below 40. Some other batters had more impressive figures. Nonetheless, the team management believed in their intuition and supported Sudharsan, primarily based on his impressive performance in the IPL.

 

On Day 1 of India vs England's 1st Test at Headingley, Sudharsan received his Test cap from legendary Indian number 3 batter Cheteshwar Pujara. Sudharsan was also brought in to bat at number 3 after KL Rahul's dismissal for 42.

 

But his dream debut was turned into a nightmare. Before lunch, Ben Stokes delivered a ball down the leg side. Sudharsan attempted to glance it away, but missed the timing. The ball hit the edge and went directly to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, and Sudharsan was gone for a 4-ball duck.

 

It was a tough moment for the young left-hander, and with that dismissal, he joined an unwanted list of Indian players who were dismissed for zero in their first-ever Test match.

 

Below is a list of Indian batters who got out for a duck within 6 balls on their Test debut:

 

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Players	Ball Faced
Ravichandran Ashwin	6
Hanuma Vihari	6
Rahul Sanghvi	6
Sai Sudharsan	4
Vijay Bharadwaj	4
Sairaj Bahutule	3
Jamshed Irani	3
CR Rangachari	3
Maninder Singh	3
Vivek Razdan	3
Wriddhiman Saha	3
Harbhajan Singh	2
Praveen Kumar	2
Khanderao Rangnekar	2
Robin Singh	2
Jasprit Bumrah	1
Manohar Hardikar	1
Gogumal Kishenchand Harisinghani	1
Bharath Reddy	1
Umesh Yadav	1

 

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Sai’s Wicket Shifted the Momentum

 

At one point, India were looking strong at 91/0. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were dominating and crossing the boundary with ease. However, it changed in a jiffy. Rahul was dismissed for 42, and just a single over later, debutant Sai Sudharsan got dismissed for zero.

 

Suddenly, India were 92/2, and momentum had shifted. With the lunch interval imminent, England were fired up. They now had a new batter after lunch and an opportunity to take a third quick wicket.

 

The dismissal of Southpaw Sudharsan provided England with hope and placed them right back in the match after a grueling session.