As things stand in the second IND vs SA Test in Guwahati, hosts India are staring at a series defeat at home again. They were rattled by Marco Jansen, as he first scored 93 and then gone on to pick six wickets, to bundle out India for only 201. That ensured a healthy lead of 288, and the visitors ended the third day with an overall lead of 314.
Washington Sundar defends Rishabh Pant
To put this into perspective, only a miracle can save India from a defeat. The way the Proteas are batting, India would most likely be set a target of 500, which is an impossible task to achieve. Yet, all-rounder Washington Sundar sounded confident. At the press conference, he came up with a classis response, saying, “You stay positive in life, never know what can happen.”
That said, the Indian batting in the first innings was atrocious. Especially, skipper Rishabh Pant, who took his chance against Jansen, and was caught out. But the team man that Washi is, he defended the captain well. “Another day that could have gone to the stands,” he added.
Former SA pacer Dale Steyn too wasn’t impressed with what Pant did with the bat. He went on to say on Star Sports, “I just feel as a captain you need to apply yourself a little bit longer in a situation like this, where you are behind the eight ball. We’ve seen the way that Temba Bavuma has captained the team and other players have taken inspiration from that. It looked like a bad time. But as a captain you just need to lead a little bit better. You’ve been out in the field for 150 overs.
“You come out there with the bat. You’re not going to win the game in an over. You’re not going to win the game in a session. You have to take the game a little bit deeper and India just aren’t able to do that. They weren’t led the way that they should be able to do that in that dismissal,” Steyn said on Star Sports.
No issues with batting slot
A big question that arises out of all this mess is, the management has been quite uncertain about Washington Sundar’s batting position. In the Kolkata Test he batted at No. 3, and was back at no. 8 in Guwahati. But the all-rounder was more than happy contribute to the team’s cause, notwithstanding his batting position.
“I really want to be the cricketer who can fit into different roles,” Washi replied to his ever-changing position. But then, the all-rounder might be happy with the floater role he is playing; the real worry remains, what results is it producing for the team.
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