Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disapproval of the decision to include Washington Sundar in India’s playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
Washington Sundar, who was not part of the original 15-member squad for the three-match Test series, was brought in after India’s 8-wicket loss in the first Test in Bengaluru. Head coach Gautam Gambhir explained that Sundar’s inclusion was aimed at countering New Zealand’s left-handed batters, who make up three of the top four in their lineup.
Washington Sundar replaced left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, with Gambhir justifying the move by saying, “We felt that having another bowler who can turn the ball away from the left-handers could be useful. Washington gives us more control, especially with their two left-handed openers and one in the middle order.”
However, Gavaskar disagreed with the rationale, suggesting that Sundar’s selection was driven more by his batting ability rather than his effectiveness against left-handers. The former India captain speculated that the team management was concerned about the strength of India’s lower-order batting, which influenced their decision to opt for Sundar over Kuldeep.
