Long after his teammates had retreated to the dressing room, Sai Sudharsan remained on the Eden Gardens turf, fine-tuning his game under the watchful eyes of head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of a potential Test recall.
With Shubman Gill's participation in the Guwahati Test uncertain due to injury, Sudharsan Gambhir's designated number three batsman, could return to India's playing eleven.
The 23-year-old left-hander last played Test cricket against the West Indies, scoring an elegant 87 before losing his spot due to team composition changes.
During Tuesday's intensive optional practice session, Sudharsan faced particular scrutiny from the coaching staff as they addressed specific technical vulnerabilities.
His primary concern remains his tendency to lose balance when playing balls angled into his body by pace bowlers. The left-hander often falls over and plays away from his body, making him susceptible to leg-side dismissals a weakness England's seamers exploited during his brief Test stint.
Pacer Akash Deep, bowling on his home ground with rhythm and sharpness, repeatedly tested Sudharsan with deliveries targeting his body and the fifth-stump channel. While the batsman handled most deliveries comfortably on the back foot, he was occasionally squared up, with a couple edging toward the slip cordon.
Gambhir moved between practice nets with meticulous attention, viewing batsmen from multiple angles alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and assistant Ryan Ten Doeschate. The coaching quartet frequently pulled Sudharsan aside for technical discussions before sending him back to the crease.
The Tamil Nadu batsman's spin play, honed on Chepauk turners, remains solid despite his tendency to play fuller deliveries off the back foot. His smooth hands and quick reflexes generally compensate for this technical quirk.
After nearly three hours of drills, Sudharsan concluded his session with close-in catching practice alongside Washington Sundar, demonstrating the work ethic that could earn him another Test opportunity when India faces South Africa.
