“It’s not something I want to be doing in my 50s and 60s,” Sunil Gavaskar advised Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan, a teenage Indian batsman who has had an outstanding start in the ODI series now taking place in South Africa, is receiving some instruction from batting veteran Sunil Gavaskar.

In the first One-Day International against the Proteas, Sudharsan scored a scorching half-century to start his international career. In the next match, he repeated the feat, as the 22-year-old scored 62 runs off 83 balls to get another fifty.

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Gavaskar praised Sudharsan profusely in a recent interview with Star Sports, highlighting the young player’s aptitude and disposition.

The former cricket player and current commentator praised his batting abilities by saying, “A very compact player plays close to his body, and has got a good very still head.” Thus, when he’s playing, his balance is excellent. And when he plays drives like that, naturally. When playing, left-handers may be so graceful that they can even execute the pull stroke.

When India and South Africa play their third One-Day International, Gavaskar believes Sudharsan should aim for a triple-figure score instead of being content with these 50s and 60s.

With reference to Sudharsan’s batting position, Gavaskar said that a calm attitude may assist the young opener get a century because he would have plenty of time to grow used to the crease.

“It is not a good idea to go out in your 50s and 60s. You have the chance to score a hundred every time you bat up the order. Thus, I believe he has to seize it in order to prevent anybody from discussing anything other than Sai Sudharsan’s partner at the top,” Gavaskar said.

In his first two One-Day Internationals, Sudharsan became only the second Indian batsman to hit fifty or more runs in a row.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, a former opener for India, had accomplished the milestone by hitting four consecutive half-centuries in his first four 50-over games.

The next one-day international (ODI) between South Africa and India will determine the outcome of the three-match series, since both sides have already claimed one win apiece. On Thursday, Paarl will host the much awaited match.