India suffered a 34-run defeat against Ireland in the first T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday, June 26. After the match, former India opener Aakash Chopra raised concerns about the way Washington Sundar is being used in the Indian team.
Chopra said that simply picking Sundar in the playing XI is not enough. He believes the all-rounder needs a clearly defined role with both bat and ball.
Chopra Wants India to Give Sundar a Bigger Role
“What are we doing with Washi? We are playing him, but are not playing him. Giving a chance doesn’t mean just playing. Giving a chance means you are given proper overs, made to bat at a proper number, given a slightly bigger role, and the role should be clearly assigned. A player gets lost many times if the role is not clearly demarcated,” Chopra said.
He also pointed out that Sundar has not had enough opportunities to contribute with the bat despite playing 61 T20Is.
“You are surprised to see that Washington Sundar has already played 61 matches and has batted only 26 times. He has scored 274 runs in total, has an average close to 16, and a strike rate close to 130. If he has gotten to bat 26 times in 61 matches, we say he can bat, but he doesn’t get a chance to do it, and in those 26 games, if you score slightly more than 250 runs, what exactly is the contribution?” he added.
Chopra praised Gujarat Titans for promoting Sundar to No. 4 and No. 5 in the IPL. However, he admitted those positions are unavailable in the Indian team.
“His best as a batter has come for the Gujarat Titans. He bats at No. 4 or No. 5 there, and suddenly you see the rise of Washington Sundar as a T20 player, but that has happened because of the Gujarat Titans, as they gave him that number. That number is not available for India,” the 48-year-old observed.
“Where we make him bat, from No. 6 to No. 9, that’s the role of a finisher. He is not a big striker like that. He is not a power hitter. He tries his best, but that is not his role. If you want his best, you will have to bat him up the order, and that place is not available at all,” he added.
Chopra also questioned Sundar’s use with the ball.
“What about the bowling? He has taken 51 wickets in 61 matches, which is not bad, and the economy is also nearly seven, which is also great. The average is also decent, but he bowls an average of less than three overs per match. You don’t bowl him at all,” he said.
He added that Sundar’s expensive first over and Prasidh Krishna’s costly over shifted the momentum in Ireland’s favour.
“His first over was the 16th over of this match, and he was hit for 19 runs in that. 46 runs went in your two overs. Prasidh Krishna conceded 27 runs, and he conceded 19 runs. The game was different,” Chopra observed.
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