Former India National Cricket Team opener Wasim Jaffer has questioned Washington Sundar's role in India's T20I setup following another disappointing performance in India's nine-wicket defeat to England National Cricket Team in the fourth T20I at Bristol.
While India's bowling attack came under heavy pressure as England chased down 159 in just 13.5 overs, Wasim. Jaffer said he remains unconvinced about where Washington Sundar fits into the team's plans, arguing that the all-rounder has neither a clearly defined batting role nor the ability to consistently deliver a full quota of overs.
Wasim Jaffer's comments came after Washington Sundar scored just five runs off eight deliveries before conceding 19 runs in the only over he bowled, as England sealed an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with one match still to play.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India cricketer admitted that Sundar's continued selection in the T20I side has left him puzzled because he cannot identify a fixed role for the all-rounder.
"I've said this before as well. Washington Sundar's selection continues to surprise me. First of all, I don't understand how he fits into India's T20I team. As a finisher, you can't really play him in that role, and he doesn't have a place in the top order either. That's the first issue. Secondly, he isn't the kind of bowler who can consistently give you four overs. So, his selection really surprises me," Wasim Jaffer stated.
The domestic cricket legend's criticism centred on role clarity rather than Washington Sundar's ability. According to Wasim Jaffer, the team management has not found a position where the 26-year-old can consistently influence games, either with the bat or the ball.
How India have used Washington Sundar during the England series
India's handling of Sundar during the ongoing England series arguably explains why his role has become a talking point.
In the fourth T20I at Bristol, he came in at No.7 after Tilak Varma's dismissal, scored five runs from eight balls and was dismissed in the final over. With the ball, he bowled just one over, conceding 19 runs, as captain Shreyas Iyer relied primarily on the pace attack while England cruised to the target.
His role was similarly limited in the opening T20I against Ireland, where he remained unbeaten on nine before bowling only a single over that also went for 19 runs.
Across those matches, Washington Sundar has neither been trusted to complete his four-over spell nor been assigned a fixed batting position capable of maximising his batting strengths. Instead, he has largely been used as a floating all-rounder, contributing in short spells with both bat and ball.
That inconsistent usage gives additional context to Wasim Jaffer's argument that India's T20I side still lacks a clearly defined role for the off-spinning all-rounder.
Jaffer also believes India need to reassess their spin combination if Varun Chakaravarthy remains unavailable after missing the fourth T20I with a hamstring injury.
He suggested that Kuldeep Yadav should come back into contention, while also mentioning SunRisers Hyderabad wrist-spinner Shivang Kumar as another attacking option.
"In the spin department, when Varun is not playing, I think we need to consider Kuldeep Yadav or someone else. As we discussed earlier, Shivang Kumar is another wrist-spin option we have. We need to find someone because you need two spinners in the middle overs who can pick up wickets and apply pressure in tandem. Right now, it feels like we don't have that at all," Wasim Jaffer stated.
Rather than relying on containing runs, Wasim Jaffer believes India require a pair of attacking spinners capable of taking wickets during the middle overs and building sustained pressure.
Why Wasim Jaffer also questioned India's fast-bowling options
The former India opener extended his criticism to India's pace attack, highlighting concerns over Prasidh Krishna's recent economy rate while expressing surprise that Mohammed Siraj is not part of the T20I squad.
He also urged the selectors to consider emerging fast bowlers such as Rasikh Salam and Sakib Hussain as India continue to search for a more balanced bowling attack.
"Our bowling has also been a concern. Prasidh Krishna has been expensive in recent times. I don't understand why Mohammed Siraj isn't in the team. Apart from that, we've spoken about Sakib Hussain, who performed well in the IPL. There's also Rasikh Salam."
What India's bowling combination could look like in the fifth T20I
India now have one final opportunity to experiment before the series concludes in Southampton. If Varun Chakaravarthy is still unavailable, the team management will need to decide whether to persist with Washington Sundar, introduce Ravi Bishnoi to add a wicket-taking wrist-spin option, or strengthen the attack with an additional seamer.
With Harshit Rana ruled out through injury and Prasidh Krishna enduring an inconsistent series, India's bowling combination is likely to remain under close scrutiny. The management must also decide whether Sundar's all-round value outweighs the need for a specialist wicket-taking spinner in the middle overs.
The fifth T20I will therefore provide India with an opportunity to respond to several of the concerns raised by Jaffer before shifting their focus to the next phase of their T20I plans.
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