NEW DELHI: The India's loss to South Africa in Kolkata has made experts question various tactics the team India followed in the first Test. Among them the decision to send Washington Sundar at No. 3 despite him being an all rounder left everyone surprised.
The move immediately triggered debate as analysts and former players tried to understand the thinking behind such a risky call on a turning track.
The Unexpected Call At No. 3
Washington Sundar has delivered important runs for India in Tests but those efforts have mostly come from the lower order. Asking him to step into the most demanding position in the batting lineup raised serious questions.
Karthik asked bluntly speaking to Cricbuzz, “Where is Washington Sundar, the Test player, being looked at? Is he a bowler who can bat? Now, if you are sending him at three, you are almost telling him that he needs to focus a lot more on batting.”
Impact On His Bowling Responsibilities
Karthik warned that giving Sundar such a demanding batting role could weaken his core skill. He explained that preparing for No. 3 means long hours of batting work, which inevitably reduces time available for bowling.
As he put it, “The moment he starts spending those long hours batting in practice, you tend to reduce your practice for bowling because it is physically impossible to be good at both.”
He also felt that the move looked temporary rather than part of a long term plan. Sundar has always been seen as a bowler who offers steady contributions with the bat. Redefining that role so drastically, according to Karthik, could hurt India more in the long run.
He summed it up by saying, “So the message is very straightforward that we are looking at big runs from you. This could affect his bowling in the long run. It is a very tricky one.”
