IND vs SA: Who is Sai Sudharsan? The young Indian lad making his Team India ODI debut

The upcoming ODI series between India and South Africa is about to kick off, and amidst the buzz, emerging talent Sai Sudharsan has earned his inaugural India cap. Boasting an impressive List A cricket average of over 60, Sudharsan also made waves in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

For those unfamiliar with Sai Sudharsan, here's a brief introduction:

Born to athletic parents, with his father representing India in athletics at the South Asian Games in Dhaka and his mother excelling as a state-level volleyball player, Sudharsan has inherited a sporting legacy. 

A product of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), he caught attention with standout performances, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the 2021 season with 358 runs in just 8 innings.

ALSO READ | IND vs SA ODI series: Squad, schedule, live-streaming on OTT and all you need to know

Following his TNPL success, Sudharsan earned a spot in Tamil Nadu’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Ranji Trophy in 2021. 

The 2022 mega auctions saw him being picked up by Gujarat Titans (GT), and he made his debut in April of that year, stepping in for the injured Vijay Shankar. In 2023, Sudharsan made his mark, particularly when he filled in at No. 3 in the absence of Kane Williamson.

As for the clash, talking about South Africa, the squad plans to don pink jerseys to raise awareness for breast cancer. The Proteas squad is poised to introduce new faces, including Tony de Zorzi and Nandre Burger. The team will see the absence of key players like Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, and Gerald Coetzee.