Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Washington Sundar needs to be given proper clarity regarding his role in the team. Sundar hasn't been able to deliver in both the batting and bowling department in the series against South Africa so far. He hasn't taken a wicket and has only scored a total of 14 runs in the first two games.
Ashwin remarked that the team management needs to be clear on what role they want Sundar to play for the team. He warned that if it continues to go like this, then Sundar will not be able to perform well with both the bat and ball.
“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 for who he is," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"So don't leave him in the searching space. Instead, the team should arrive at giving him the proper role clarity,” he added.
Ashwin feels Reddy can be included
Ashwin further suggested that the team could bring in all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy into the playing XI in place of Sundar as the former can go on to score crucial runs for them by the end of the innings. This comments come after the Men in Blue only posted 358 runs on the board in the second ODI after being 284/4 by the end of 40 overs.
“India also didn't finish well with the bat in both ODIs. Especially when you don't have a finisher like Hardik Pandya, why didn't a similarly powerful Nitish Kumar Reddy play?” Ashwin stated.
"I am not sure if they are looking at Rishabh Pant as a finisher or not. India are not able to provide that finishing punch. So should an extra fast-bowling allrounder play instead of a spinning allrounder?" he added.
Series decider set to be held soon
Meanwhile, the third and final ODI of the ongoing series between India and South Affrica will be played on December 6 in Visakkhapatnam. It remains to be seen as to which team will go on to clinch the series that is currently tied at 1-1.