BGT 2024-25: Wasim Jaffer calls for dropping of Washington Sundar, urges Rohit Sharma to include this star in XI for Adelaide test

Washington Sundar scored 33 runs and picked up two wickets in the Perth test.

Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has suggested India bring back veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in their XI for the upcoming second BGT 2024-25 test in Adelaide, replacing youngster Washington Sundar.

In the first test in Perth, India made a shocking call by dropping both Ashwin and Jadeja – that is 855 test wickets combined – in favor of Sundar, who had played only six tests coming into this series but showed terrific form in the last two tests against New Zealand.

A chief reason for Sundar’s selection over Ashwin was the left-hander’s much better ability with the bat in hand compared to Ashwin. Since India missed Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in Perth and featured the inexperienced Padikkal and Jurel, they wanted extra batting security that Sundar provided.

Now that both Rohit and Gill are set to return in Adelaide, Jaffer reckons India should go back to Ashwin, who has 16 wickets in three tests in Adelaide at an average of 30. In the 2020 Adelaide test, he picked up five wickets in the match.

Wasim Jaffer tweeted, “I want India to play Ashwin. Spin always plays a part in D/N Test, Ash has done well there before. Washi hasn’t done anything wrong but with Rohit & Gill back to bolster the batting, play your best spinner is what I think. And Ashwin is more than handy with the bat too.”

The team gets confident with players like Sundar: Rohit Sharma

In the pre-match press conference, Rohit hailed all three spinning all-rounders but didn’t reveal who will play in Adelaide.

In Perth, Sundar recorded scores of 4 and 29 and took two wickets in Australia’s second innings. In the day-night warm-up match against PM’s XI, he scored 42* runs and picked up 1/38.

Rohit lavished praise on Sundar, saying “Washington came to Australia on the last tour, got crucial runs and took wickets. Unfortunately, he got injured. He is a solid all-rounder. The team gets confident with players like him. I just hope he stays injury free. I only see his graph going up from here.”

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