Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said he is not convinced by Washington Sundar’s promotion to No. 3 in the batting order in Test cricket.
Sundar was tried at No. 3 by the Indian team management in the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a low-scoring affair, the left-handed batter scored 29 in the first innings, while he was the highest run-getter in the second innings, scoring 31.
Ganguly praised Sundar but urged Gautam Gambhir to find a specialist batter for the number three position.
“It’s been a tremendous time for Washington Sundar,” he told India Today. “I think he’s a good cricketer; he bowls well, he bats well, but I’m not too sure whether No. 3 is a spot for him in Test cricket in the long run, across all conditions. Your top five batters—openers, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5—must be specialists who can perform in those roles everywhere, and I’m not convinced Washi is India’s No. 3 in England, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. That’s something Gautam needs to look at.”
While he batted in both innings, the 26-year-old cricketer bowled just a single over in the first innings, and in the second he did not get a chance against the Proteas in the series opener. Ganguly also emphasised that if the team’s main spinner is fit enough to bowl long spells, India can avoid playing four spinners.
“He doesn’t need four spinners in India, especially when Washi bowled only a single over in the entire Test. When the pitch spins and the main spinners can deliver 20–30 overs, you don’t need four of them. So he needs to consider all of this,” he added.
Sundar is likely to retain his place for the second Test, which gets underway in Guwahati on November 22.
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