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"Improved My..." IPL Breakout Star Sudharsan To Use County Experience For England Tests

Jatin

Sai Sudharsan during his stint with Surrey [Source: @shreyas_iyerkkr/x.com]Sai Sudharsan during his stint with Surrey [Source: @shreyas_iyerkkr/x.com]

From smacking bowlers around in the IPL to prepping for a gruelling five-match Test series in England, Sai Sudharsan’s cricketing career is picking up pace fast. The 23-year-old southpaw, fresh off a red-hot IPL 2025 campaign with Gujarat Titans, is all set to don the whites for India on their upcoming Test tour of England and he will banking on his county cricket experience to help him settle into the red-ball grind.

Sai Sudharsan Set To Lean on Surrey Stint As He Prepares For England Tests

Sai Sudharsan isn’t flying blind. The left-hander had stints with Surrey in 2023 and 2024, getting a feel of the Dukes ball, green tops and the stop-start rhythm of English county cricket. And that, he believes, will make a huge difference.

“It gave me a great experience,” Sudharsan said after GT’s 20-run loss to MI in the IPL Eliminator. “It improved my batting multiple folds in terms of technique and basics.”

He knows it’s not just about switching formats, it’s about switching gears.

"After a long three months of white-ball tournament, certain things would have changed in your batting. I think focusing more on basics and bringing back those to red-ball cricket will take some time,” added the southpaw.

A Huge Red Ball Test Awaits Sudharsan In England

Sudharsan was one of the shining lights in Gujarat Titans’ campaign. He racked up 759 runs, the highest in IPL 2025, including a century and six fifties, averaging 54.21. He finished the season with a gutsy 80 in the Eliminator against MI, showing once again he is cut out for the big stage.

But white-ball fireworks only get you so far in England. Swing, seam, patience. it’s a different ball game, literally. And Sudharsan knows that. His time with Surrey wasn’t just a resume booster, it was a real taste of the kind of cricket he will need to master if he is to survive and thrive in English conditions.

New Era, New Captain, New Top-Order

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from Tests, India’s red-ball setup is entering a bold new era. And it will be Shubman Gill, his Gujarat skipper, who leads the charge.

Sudharsan might be new to Tests, but he is no stranger to Indian colours as he has already played three ODIs and one T20I. Now, the big leap awaits. A five-Test series in England, starting June 20 at Headingley, is as tough as it gets. But the Chennai boy looks ready to roll with the punches.