Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif questioned Washington Sundar's role in the team after the spin all-rounder hadn’t been used much with the ball across formats in recent months. As the management favours all-rounders for added batting depth and flexibility, Sundar has found himself featuring regularly.
Kaif on Sundar's bowling
While he has a decent outing with the bat in both Tests and T20Is but his bowling was not up to the mark in every format. He bowled only three overs in the first ODI and four in the second against South Africa, which has raised serious doubts over his bowling credentials and the lack of trust the skipper has shown in his bowling. Kaif who was part of India's Asia Cup 2002 winning squad, slammed Sundar's inclusion in the squad, stating that he is “not even half of Ashwin” when it comes to spin skills.
"The management can answer what Washington's role is. He is not even half of Ashwin if we talk about skills as a spinner. Even in Tests and ODIs, under different captains, not one but all of them have not given him full overs. When the game is tight, they go to Jadeja and Kuldeep. There is no trust that he can pick wickets at any stage, like how it is with Kuldeep. He will have to work a lot on his bowling," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Kaif suggests BCCI to give clarity
Sundar has failed to perform with bat in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, where he managed to score 13 and 1 in two outings. Kaif reckons that Sundar's wicket-taking threat has dipped and the added batting expectations are only piling on pressure. He suggested that Sundar needs clarity in his role and significant improvement as a bowler.
"First of all, his wicket-taking ability is less, and now you want Sundar to bat and are just putting more pressure on him. It is like he is neither a bowler nor a batter. Make him do one thing and give him a clear role. He can play the role of Axar in batting in the middle. That is fine. But his main role is bowling. Batting is a bonus. But if his bowling gets bad, which is evident as they are not giving overs, he will go further behind in bowling. He will have to work on his skills and variations as a bowler. If he wants to play longer for India, he has to improve his bowling," he added.
Sundar will most likely to feature in the third ODI between India and South Africa which will take place in Vishakhapatnam.