Washington Sundar ripped apart the New Zealand batting line-up as he took 7 wickets. Earlier today, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar had called Sundar’s inclusion in the test squad as an “inspired selection.” He was also not convinced with the three changes made in the team from the first test.
Gavaskar had said, “What an inspired selection. He (Washington Sundar) is picked in the XI because he can bat a little bit, bowl a little bit.”
He went on to add, “I don't see a lot of teams making three changes unless there are injury concerns. Washington Sundar inclusion which actually tells you they are worried about their batting. More than his bowling, they need his batting down the order as the cushion. Yes, there is a lot of talk about the left-handers in the New Zealand batting unit, but I would have picked Kuldeep Yadav, who can also turn it away from a left-hander.”
New Zealand commentator and former cricketer Simon Doull was also critical of Sundar’s selection earlier in the day. He had said, “Washington Sundar, coming off runs in domestic cricket, straightaway is in the XI. Does that tell me they are not happy with how R Ashwin bowled? But they are bringing in another off-spinner because he (Ashwin) didn't bowl well in the first test. I will tell you what, he will bowl well here.”
At 179/3, New Zealand were looking good before Sundar’s astonishing bowling. They were eventually bowled out for 259. Sundar was added to the India Test squad after their defeat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. Sundar was brilliant in his first Ranji Trophy 2024-25 outing against Delhi. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder scored 152 runs in the only innings he batted and also picked six wickets in the match.
