Promising young batsman Sai Sudharsan created history in his cricketing career by debuting for India in Tests on 20th June, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds.
The debut is special and symbolic, as the honor was bestowed upon the 23-year-old by Cheteshwar Pujara, a veteran of India’s Test side. Sudharsan’s debut was not one to remember as he got dismissed for a duck after 4 balls when denied twice for a single by Jaiswal.
White-Ball Sensation Enters Red-Ball Territory
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Famous for his reliable and aggressive outings in limited-over cricket, Sai Sudharsan was a standout performer in IPL 2025, winning the Orange Cap for most runs scored. His remarkable performance also saw him bag the Emerging Player of the Tournament award, solidifying his place as one of India’s brightest upcoming stars.
Though his record at the white-ball format is exemplary, his first-class average of 39.93 in 49 innings is modest to regard him as a top-order batsman. Nevertheless, there is a long-term prospect in Sudharsan, which is why he has been picked for the Test team for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Historical Parallel: Sub-40 Average at Debut Not Unprecedented
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Interestingly, Sai Sudharsan is the latest debutant in the rare category of Indian top-order batters to make his Test debut with a first-class average less than 40.
The previous notable instance was WV Raman, who made his debut against the West Indies at Chennai in the 1987/88 season. Raman played 11 Test matches for India.
20th June: The Fortunate Day for Indian Cricket Legends
20th June has been the platform for the launch of some of India cricket’s all-time great names in the past. On 20th June 1996, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid both made their debuts in a landmark Test against England at Lord’s, cricketers who would go on to become legends and captains of Indian cricket. Virat Kohli too had his Test debut on 20th June 2011 against the West Indies.
For Sai Sudharsan, debuting on this iconic date places him in elite company. While comparisons may be premature, the historical significance of 20th June makes his debut all the more special and symbolic of potential greatness.
A Promising Future Begins for Sai Sudharsan
As Sai Sudharsan sets off on his red-ball adventure for India, the 20th June debut comes with the whispers of legends gone by and the hope of the future. Having been the white-ball giant so far and with an opportunity now to excel in the longest format as well, fans and the selectors will eagerly observe if this gem of a left-hander can emulate the Indian greats who also started their Test tales on this day.
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