Pant’s injury, if serious, will have consequences, says Sudharsan

India opener Sai Sudharsan scored a composed half-century on a tricky Old Trafford wicket in the 4th Test against England and said Rishabh Pant’s injury could have serious consequences, depending on scan results expected by Thursday.

HYDERABAD: India opener Sai Sudharsan, who scored a gritty half-century on the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday, said there was a bit of variable bounce and the wicket was two-paced and overcast conditions.

Speaking to the media at the end of the day’s play, Sudharsan said that throughout the day, it was cloud-covered. “Throughout the day, the ball was moving, doing something or the other from the wicket, I thought I played a bit tighter and took some time in the wicket,” he said.

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Speaking about shadow batting, he was doing the day before the match, Sudharsan said he does it every day. “That’s my go-to thing. So, I do it whenever possible, whichever time it is possible, I always visualise it. It’s a great, great skill which anybody can possess, and mentally you’ll be ready. So, I always do it every day and before every game,” he said.

Reflecting on Rishabh Pant’s injury, having watched it from non-striker’s end, Sudharsan said Pant was in a lot of pain, definitely, but they’ve gone for scans.

“We’ll get to know overnight, probably get the information tomorrow. So, it will definitely have consequences (if the injury is serious). But at the same time, the batters who are batting right now, and there are a few more all-rounders inside. So, we’ll try and give our best and bat long so that we (4:51) negotiate that loss very well,” he said.

“I was actually drawing (on the notebook) to just pass time when I am inside, just kind of a distraction. I was kind of in the game and out of the game as well. So, because our openers played really well, I was slightly tired when I went in the first innings of the first game. So intense watching the game, just trying to wind down, just relax a bit when I was outside,” Sudharsan said.

“After the first game, Shubby (captain Shubman Gill) had a conversation with me that because of the combination, we were playing the best XI. He told me what happened behind the scenes, why I am not playing. So he’s very communicative,” he said.

“As a captain, Shubby is like, he expresses really well, he tells everybody what he’s expecting, and he tells everybody what good we are doing as well, just to reassure the players of the team. Seeing Shubby from the IPL, it’s been a really great journey so far,” Sudharsan said.

On his dismissal, playing the pull stroke against England captain Ben Stokes, Sudharsan said he felt the dismissal, it held a bit more and bounced a bit more from the pavilion end. “Actually, quite a few balls were bouncing a bit more from the pavilion end. I felt we can see that a bit more in the coming days. So, let’s see how it is,” he said.

Referring to the dropped chance when he was on 20 when wicketkeeper Jamie Smith floored a regulation catch, Sudharsan said he didn’t know how he edged it down the leg.

“But, yes, as the England team, we know they were trying to do it quite often to a lot of batters and probably even this side as well, even wide offside, they give a half volley just to make us drive or down the leg just to make us play something different. So, I feel, yes, I was a bit aware when coming into this game. So, it actually helped,” he explained.

Speaking on the pressure he felt coming into the game, Sudharsan said to be honest, he was not looking at this as a pressure situation.

“So, it’s a great opportunity for me to go out there and express myself. The game is all about pressure and handling it really well. So I’m trying to play the situation very well and do what I can do best for my team. So, that’s the most important thought, or that’s the most important thing, which is right up in my mind rather than me playing my first Test or playing in place of another batter. So, as a batter or as a player for the team, I’m trying to do my best when I get in there,” he explained.