As India gears up for the high-stakes five-match Test series against England starting June 20 at Headingley, one of the biggest talking points has been the inclusion of Sai Sudharsan in the red-ball squad. The talented left-hander, who earned his maiden Test call-up, is expected to bat at No. 3—a crucial position left vacant following the retirement of stalwarts like Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
And for Sudharsan, the journey to this point has been fuelled by a familiar face from Tamil Nadu—his good friend and teammate, Washington Sundar. In a light-hearted and heartfelt interaction shared by the BCCI, Sudharsan revealed that Sundar has been nothing short of an inspiration.
“He’s been my inspiration,” Sai Sudharsan said, smiling. “Even though we’re close in age, I’ve watched him grow up the ranks very quickly—from IPL success to playing for India. Watching him from close quarters, especially being from the same city, made me believe I could follow that path too.”
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Sundar, who has been a steady presence in India’s setup across all formats, will be fighting for a place in the playing XI for the England series amidst competition from Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Despite that, he remains one of the most grounded and supportive figures around.
The video also showcased a funny exchange between the two friends, where Sudharsan teased Sundar about his Tamil accent, prompting the latter to blush and jokingly respond, “Stop it, let’s go.”
𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙖𝙞 𝙎𝙪𝙙𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣❓#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @Sundarwashi5 | @sais_1509
Watch 🔽
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 16, 2025
Their camaraderie goes beyond the national setup. Both players have shared the dressing room at the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, where Sudharsan made headlines this year by clinching the Orange Cap. The 23-year-old outscored the likes of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav, showcasing maturity and stroke-play that impressed selectors and fans alike.
Washington Sundar, speaking fondly about Sai Sudharsan’s rapid growth, said, “He’s developed so much in the last 3–4 years. His consistency, skill set, and work ethic are outstanding. He’s become a role model for many youngsters in Chennai and across India. I’m really happy for him.”
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Sudharsan, who has already represented India in three ODIs and one T20I, is now on the brink of making his Test debut. Meanwhile, Sundar, who has played nine Tests, 23 ODIs, and 54 T20Is, brings valuable experience and versatility to the side.
As India enters a new phase with fresh faces in the Test arena, the Tamil Nadu duo of Sudharsan and Sundar is poised to play a pivotal role. Their journey together, rooted in friendship and mutual respect, could be one of the defining stories of this new-look Indian team’s campaign in England.
