Why Was Washington Sundar Added To The India Squad For New Zealand Tests Despite Axar Patel Already In? (Source: PTI)
India all-rounder Washington Sundar was added to the squad for the final two Tests against New Zealand soon after the hosts suffered a crushing eight-wicket defeat to the Kiwis in the first Test. Sundar hasn't played a Test for India since 2021, but he raised his stocks after scoring 152 batting at No. 3 for Tamil Nadu in the ongoing Ranji Trophy tournament earlier last week. The southpaw will link up with the squad in Pune on Monday.
The move to add Sundar to the squad out of the blue left many surprised and the BCCI release also did not provide any update as to why the all-rounder was included in the squad, that already had Axar Patel. As per a report in Indian Express, Sundar was added to the squad, not to add strength to India's spin department, but as a cover for the batters ahead of the second Test. India have a few concerns heading into the important clash in Pune, with Shubman Gill struggling with a stiff neck, Rishabh Pant's knee injury, and the form of KL Rahul.
The report further revealed Sundar was added to the squad at the request of the Gautam Gambhir-led team management who felt that a finger spinner who could bat would be better on the Pune surface. Sundar has played just four Tests, picking six wickets and scoring 265 runs with three fifties.
Rishabh Pant To Miss Second Test?
Meanwhile, India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant could miss the second Test against New Zealand, the report added. The selectors have left it to the team management to play or rest Rishabh Pant. Pant was hit on the knee during the first Test and did not keep wickets for the team, with Dhruv Jurel taking the gloves. He though batted well and scored a fluent 99. Indian captain Rohit Sharma also mentioned the team needs to be extra careful with Rishabh Pant given the massive trauma he went through in the last few years.
“He’s had a lot of minor surgeries and one big surgery on his knee and went through a lot of trauma, to be honest, in the last one and a half years. So it’s just about being extra careful, not just careful with him,” Rohit said.
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