The playing combination of the Indian cricket team again under question. Former India cricketer gave a suggestion to the team management to make a change in the playing XI, so that the team can bat well during the closing moment of a match.
Suggestion to the Indian team management regarding playing xi
Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that the Indian team management should clarify Washington Sundar’s role in the team and if this is not done then the all-rounder will remain confused about what his role really is. Ashwin said that Washington should be considered a bowling all-rounder and should be given full overs which will also increase his confidence in batting. The 26-year-old has bowled only seven overs in the first two ODIs against South Africa and is yet to take a wicket.
“Once you decide to include Washington Sundar in the playing XI, you have to see his role as a bowler who can also bat. You have to get him to bowl his full quota of overs,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “Only if he bowls consistently will he (Washington) develop the mindset of a bowler who can also bat. If he just bats and bowls a few overs, he will keep wondering what his role is in the team. He should not be left in this situation and the team should clarify his proper role.”
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India failed to defend 358 runs in the second ODI, and South Africa leveled the three-match series with a four-wicket win. India had scored 348 runs in the first ODI and won the match by 17 runs. Ashwin believes that in the absence of Hardik Pandya, the Indian team is missing a good finisher. Ashwin said, “India did not finish well with the bat in the first two ODIs either. If we do not have a finisher like Hardik Pandya, then why did not a batsman like Nitish Kumar Reddy play?”
He suggested including Nitish in the playing XI in place of Washington. He said, “I don’t think they are looking at Rishabh Pant as a finisher. India is not finishing well with the bat, so a fast bowling all-rounder should be played instead of a spin all-rounder.”