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Sai Sudharsan has reflected on his initial emotions after securing a spot in India‘s ODI squad for the upcoming South African tour.
BCCI’s squad unveiling and Sai Sudharsan’s maiden call-up for India
On November 30, 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the squads for the comprehensive tour. They have maintained continuity in the T20I team currently engaged in the series against Australia and introduced a few alterations to the Test squad based on the West Indies series. The ODI lineup has seen the infusion of fresh talents, including two uncapped batters, Rajat Patidar and Sudharsan, the latter earning his debut India ODI call-up. India will compete in a three-match ODI series against South Africa scheduled from December 17-21.
Sudharsan’s form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy and rising to prominence in IPL 2023
Sudharsan has been in exceptional form during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2023, highlighted by a commanding innings of 125 runs against Goa. The 22-year-old’s consistent excellence for India A in the emerging nations Asia Cup in Sri Lanka has further garnered the selectors’ attention. The cricketer rose to prominence in Indian cricket circles with a remarkable innings of 96 runs for Gujarat Titans in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 against MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Sudharsan’s reaction to ODI Squad inclusion for the South African tour
In his initial reaction to the selection, Sudharsan has expressed disbelief, stating that making it to the Indian squad has been a dream come true.
“It is a great feeling, and I am a bit lost for words. It is a dream come true for me, but at the same time, this is just the beginning, and there are many areas where I need to improve,” Sudharsan was quoted as saying by Sportstar.
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Contract with Surrey and commitment to domestic cricket
His outstanding performance in the IPL 2023 have not only earned accolades but also secured a contract with Surrey for the final three games of the County Championship 2023, that he featured in September. Despite these achievements, Sudharsan remains committed to his next fixture against Punjab, focusing on aiding his team’s qualification for the knockouts in the VHT 2023.
“I learnt a lot playing in all these tournaments, and the exposure it has given me has helped me improve as a batter. But my first goal is to just focus on my match tomorrow (Friday) against Punjab and help the team qualify for the knockouts,” the Chennai-born cricketer concluded.
