‘He was already injured’ – Mohammad Kaif unhappy with Washington Sundar’s inclusion in second ODI

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has questioned the Indian team management on the use of Washington Sundar despite his injury in their four-wicket loss to England in Cardiff in the second ODI.

Sundar was seen receiving treatment while batting and was shown with a strapping on his thigh. He was out on the subsequent ball but did not come out to bowl, leaving India with just five bowling options. Kaif criticised the management for their lack of attention to detail in this scenario, choosing to risk the player who already has an injury rather than play a fit player. 

“He was already injured. If you remember, he played three balls while batting. He had come with his hamstring bandaged. He was already injured and he was pushed. The question is whether he could have been rested, or a fit player could have been played and given an opportunity instead,” the former batter said on Cricbuzz.

Defending 234, India had to rely on Shivam Dube as their fifth bowler. Limited to just five bowlers and combating a stoic Joe Root at the other end, skipper Shubman Gill was left with fewer options to rotate his bowlers. Kaif pointed out that Dube is not a bowler you would use for 10 overs, and the absence of Sundar was a big miss due to the conditions and dimensions of the Cardiff ground playing in favour of the spinners. 

“Shivam Dube does not play that much ODI cricket. He has not been in the ODI side for many years now. So, it was a big task for him to bowl 10 overs. If Sundar was there, he could have bowled around six overs, the captain plans like this. But his absence meant that Shivam Dube became the fifth bowler, and he is not a 10 over bowler.

“So, of course, Sundar’s absence played a part. The wicket was a but slow, the cow corners were quite big on the ground, so the spinners had a role to play,” Kaif continued.

Being put into bat, India were bundled out for 233 despite being at 178 for 4 at one point. England’s talisman, Root, scored an unbeaten 99 off 133 balls to guide his team home and level the series ahead of the third ODI at Lord’s on Sunday, June 19.