3 Indian Test players who should be axed after the clean sweep to South Africa

India’s 2–0 home reverse to South Africa left selectors with little room for patience. The batting line-up, touted as a mix of youth and promise, repeatedly failed to put up runs. India did not pass 201 in any innings across the two Tests and suffered a 408-run drubbing in Guwahati. That collapse forces hard calls, and here are three players whose Test places should be reconsidered.

1. Sai Sudharsan

Sai arrived as a young, attacking option, but his approach in the second Test was bewildering. His second-innings 14 off 139 balls at Guwahati, with a strike rate of around 10, was symptomatic of a batter who neither scored nor successfully blunted the attack. 

At the Test level, you can afford the odd dogged innings, but that kind of crawl against an attack hunting wickets did nothing for India’s cause and highlighted serious doubts about his shot selection and temperament against high-quality seam and spin. Until Sai shows the defensive discipline and timing needed to build long innings, he’s a luxury India can ill afford.

2. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish’s rise through white-ball cricket and India A earned him a Test chance, but the move to Tests has so far produced little reward. His contributions were minimal in the two Tests, and experts have publicly questioned whether he brings enough technical solidity against sustained pressure. India needs players who can blunt the new ball and build, and Nitish’s performances haven’t yet convinced that he’s ready for that role long term.

3. Dhruv Jurel

 Jurel was among the lowest performers in the series, and his contributions in the two Tests were insufficient to stem the batting collapses. There’s merit in backing a player with the kind of red-ball runs he has posted, but Test selection must reward impact at the highest level, and right now Jurel hasn’t delivered it. Given India’s fragile batting state, the team may be better served by promoting a steadier, more seasoned option while Jurel continues his development in the A-team.

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