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Ahead of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made an unconventional proposal to India head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. With injuries forcing changes in the squad, Ashwin suggested that if the team truly trusts Washington Sundar’s batting capabilities, they should consider promoting him to No.3 in place of Karun Nair.
India stuck with the same playing XI for the Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, but the lineup is expected to be shuffled due to fitness concerns. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the rest of the series, while there are doubts over Akash Deep’s availability following a groin injury. Although he underwent a fitness test recently, his participation remains uncertain. If he is unfit, uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj, already drafted into the squad, may be handed his debut.
Reddy’s absence creates a significant gap. His all-round abilities gave India batting depth, often extending down to number eight with the presence of both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Replacing him with Shardul Thakur, who featured in the opening Test, would compromise batting depth as Thakur hasn't consistently delivered with the bat. Furthermore, Thakur would need to step up his bowling, given Reddy's knack for delivering breakthroughs at crucial moments — like in the third Test at Lord’s.
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Ashwin believes this is where Sundar’s all-round value could be crucial. Promoting Sundar up the order to No.3, Ashwin argued, could allow India to play left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and still maintain a strong lower order with Jadeja. This approach would also allow room for an additional specialist batter, like Sai Sudharsan or Dhruv Jurel, instead of relying on a bowling all-rounder.
“There’s a lot of buzz around playing Kuldeep. If the management has confidence in Washington Sundar’s batting, why not send him at No.3 and include Kuldeep? That opens up options. Do you want Sundar or Sai Sudharsan in place of Karun Nair? With Nitish ruled out, do you replace him with Shardul Thakur? Or do you pick a specialist batter instead? My suggestion would be to go with Washington at No.3, keep Jadeja, and bring in either Sai or Jurel in place of Shardul. Strengthen your batting and back your spinners,” Ashwin explained on his YouTube channel.
Sundar, who has experience batting in the top order for Tamil Nadu, has a solid technique and temperament. His Test average of 38 from 11 matches underlines his potential. He also made valuable contributions in the recent Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, showcasing his resilience and composure under pressure.
