Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin stressed on the need for Washington Sundar to be utilized fully with the ball in the 50-over format of the game. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder has played more or less like a pure batter in the ongoing IND vs SA ODIs and hardly bowled in both games he has played so far. Ahead of the 3rd ODI in Visakhapatnam, Ashwin urged the team management to encourage Sundar to bowl more.
‘Treat Sundar as a bowler’
In a video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated that it was important for India to treat Washington as a bowler who can bat so that he will have that mindset. The former Indian spinner warned that bowling Sundar for only a few overs while he focuses on his batting will leave him searching for who he is. Ashwin asked head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management to give Sundar a proper role clarity and what is expected from him.
“Once you have decided to play Washington Sundar, you’ve to treat him as a bowler who can bat. You’ve to bowl out his overs. Only if he keeps bowling, he’ll have the mindset of a bowler who can bat. Otherwise if he just bats and bowls a few overs, he’ll keep searching who he is. So don’t leave him in the searching space. Instead, the team should arrive at giving him the proper role clarity,” said Ashwin.
Sundar has been batting at number 5 in the ongoing series, being slotted ahead of skipper KL Rahul. So far, he has managed to score just 13 and 1 in two games. With the ball, the spinner has been used for a combined 7 overs in the 2 ODIs. It will be interesting to see if India use Washi more with the ball in the IND vs SA 3rd ODI or if the team decides to bench him.
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