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Not Kohli, Rohit Or Ashwin! Sai Sudharsan Reveals THIS Player As His Biggest Inspiration

Jatin

Sai Sudharsan is in line to make his Test debut [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]Sai Sudharsan is in line to make his Test debut [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

As India gears up for a new red-ball chapter without two of their biggest modern-day icons, a fresh crop of stars is waiting in the wings to take over. One such promising name is Sai Sudharsan, who might just get his Test cap at Leeds on June 20.

Sai Sudharsan Opens Up on His Cricketing Idol

But before donning the whites, the Chennai lad opened up about the man who lit the fire in him early on: Washington Sundar.

Sudharsan might be soft-spoken off the field, but with bat in hand, he has been making all the right noises. From cracking fifties in his maiden ODI series in South Africa to bagging the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 with 759 runs, the 23-year-old has gone from TNPL standout to international hopeful in no time.

But behind that staggering rise is a tale of inspiration and for Sudharsan, it came from close to home: fellow Tamil Nadu cricketer Washington Sundar.

Speaking ahead of the Test opener against England, Sudharsan revealed how Sundar’s early success served as fuel for his own ambitions.

“He has been my inspiration since I was young,” Sudharsan said in a video posted by the BCCI as quoted by ANI.

“I have played a few games against him, so it is always special. To be honest, we have looked up to him a lot. I have practised once or twice (against Sundar), the way he went up and the way he played for the country, it was really quick, so I had that in my mind. He did well in the IPL, and then he played for the country. So it was a great motivator for me from Chennai. Knowing him since I was young, playing with him, it is kind of inspiring. It made me feel I want to do things the same way.

Sundar debuted for India in 2017 and went on to play that unforgettable Test at Brisbane in 2021, where he stood tall under pressure. Sudharsan, who made his first-class debut six years after Sundar, said watching someone from his own city make it big gave him belief that the dream wasn’t too far-fetched.

Sundar Proud Of Sudharsan’s Journey

Washington Sundar, now a senior presence in the dressing room, couldn’t hide his admiration for the youngster’s journey either.

"I have watched him on TV. There is a lot to take away from him, his skillset and work ethic he has got. He has inspired a lot of kids in Chennai, and I hope he will continue inspiring kids all over the world," said Sundar.

From TNPL Grind To Test Debut Dream

Before IPL fame and India call-ups, Sai Sudharsan earned his stripes in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he sits 10th among the top run-getters with 1,303 runs at an average of 56.65.

Now, with a new era beginning under Test skipper Shubman Gill, Sudharsan has a golden chance to make a name for himself. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping aside, the baton has officially been passed to the new-gen—and Sudharsan looks more than ready to pick it up.