“Half of Ashwin if…”- Former RCB star lashes out at Gautam Gambhir on Washington Sundar's role in IND vs SA ODI series

The former star of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mohammad Kaif, has questioned the role of India’s off-spinner, Washington Sundar, after the latter was not given a full role with both bat and ball in any of the first two ODIs in Ranchi and Raipur. As the management favors the all-rounder, Sundar has had chances regularly.

Kaif, who was part of India’s 2002 winning squad of the Asia Cup, slammed the inclusion of the Tamil Nadu spinner, stating that he is not even half of the former spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, when it comes to spin skills.

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“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 expressed on his YouTube channel.

Mohammad Kaif blames Indian management for Washington Sundar’s role in IND vs SA ODI series

India won the opening game in Ranchi by a narrow margin of 17 runs as the Proteas kept losing wickets regularly. But in the second encounter, the visitors displayed a clinical batting performance to level the series at 1-1.

“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.” Kaif addressed.

“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.” The former RCB batter addressed.