The position of Washington Sundar in the Indian cricket team has been a matter of discussion owing to his diminished effect with the ball in the regime of Gautam Gambhir. The former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has openly voiced his concern regarding the recent usage of Washington Sundar.
Though Gautam Gambhir likes the bat-deep line-ups and multi-skill players, Sundar’s biggest strength is already slipping away at the wrong time which has been highlighted by Kaif. Sundar has been getting regular chances but his bowling has been way off from what India expects from a frontline spinner across the formats.
Washington Sundar will have to work a lot on his bowling: Mohammad Kaif
And even Washington Sundar’s batting form is that poor, mainly in the white-ball format. Such worrying signs were getting louder in the current three-match ODI series against South Africa, where Sundar bowled only three overs in the first match and four in the second.
The pressure increased when Sundar failed with the bat as well, scoring only 13 and 1 in the two ODIs against South Africa. His batting not being helpful and his bowling losing edge, Kaif raised the question to Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar regarding what exactly the role of Sundar in the team is.
Mohammad Kaif, in a YouTube clip, remarked, “The board might explain what exactly the part of Washington is. He is simply not able to compete with Ashwin in terms of the art of spinning even by a long way.” The star performer, not only in Test but also in ODI matches, under different leadership no one has given him full overs. When the match is tight, they look towards Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. There is no faith that he will grab a wicket at any moment, as is the case with Kuldeep. He needs to put in a lot of effort to get his bowling right.”
Mohammad Kaif questions Washington Sundar’s role after bowling dip and batting failures
Kaif pointed out that the off-spinner’s ability to take wickets has been curtailed and that while the team is trying to get him to bat more, it is just adding more pressure on him.
The ex- Indian batter elaborated, “To start with, he isn’t taking many wickets and now you want Sundar to bat and you are just pressuring him more. It is like he is neither a bowler nor a batter. Give him a clear role and make him do just one thing. He can bat like Axar Patel in the middle. That is fine. But his main job is to take wickets. Batting is an added advantage.”
Mohammad Kaif doubts over Washington Sundar’s future
Kaif added that Sundar would have to work hard on his skills especially his variations if he aspired for a long future ahead with the Indian cricket team. It is worth mentioning, that the Indian team is gearing up to take on South Africa in the third and final ODI on December 6 in Vizag
He concluded by stating, “But if he loses his touch, which is already the case since he is not being given any overs, he will drop even further back in the pecking order of bowlers. He will need to hone his skills and work on his variations as a bowler. If he wants to play longer for India he needs a lot of improvement in bowling. “
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