"Don't leave him in the searching space" - R Ashwin's huge request after IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

England and India Nets Sessions - Source: Getty
Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his unhappiness with India's usage of one of their stars [Credit: Getty]

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin advised the team management to clarify Washington Sundar's role in the ODI setup and not leave the youngster searching. Ashwin's remarks came after Sundar endured a second successive poor outing in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur.

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The 26-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder has bowled only seven overs across the two games with no wickets to show for. Sundar's batting has also gone off the boil, with scores of 13 and 1 in the two South African ODIs despite being promoted to the top six in the order.

Talking about Washington Sundar's role on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said (36:05):

"Once you have decided to play Washington Sundar, you've to treat him as a bowler who can bat. You've to bowl out his overs. Only if he keeps bowling, he'll have the mindset of a bowler who can bat. Otherwise if he just bats and bowls a few overs, he'll keep searching who he is. So don't leave him in the searching space. Instead, the team should arrive at giving him the proper role clarity."
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He added:

"India also didn't finish well with the bat in both ODIs. Especially when you don't have a finisher like Hardik Pandya, why didn't a similarly powerful Nitish Kumar Reddy play? I am not sure if they are looking at Rishabh Pant as a finisher or not. India are not able to provide that finishing punch. So should an extra fast-bowling allrounder play instead of a spinning allrounder?"
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Sundar's struggles with the bat resulted in India lacking the finishing kick in both ODIs despite posting impressive overall totals of 349 and 358, respectively.

"India will have to score 30 to 40 extra runs in every match" - R Ashwin

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Ravichandran Ashwin believes Team India's bowling lacks the punch in the absence of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing South African series. The veteran seamer has been rested for the ODI series, following the four home Tests against the West Indies and South Africa.

"We've lost quite a few bowlers in Tests and white-ball cricket. India have lost many experienced bowlers. And in all this, the punch point X-factor is Jasprit Bumrah. If tomorrow he is not a full-time member in the squad, India will have to score 30 to 40 extra runs in every match," said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).
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He concluded:

"Australia, South Africa and England will continue to chase scores down with the power component. India will produce classy batting but matching these teams in the power component is not going to be easy. With long levers and powerful big-hitting boys, if Bumrah isn't there tomorrow, it's going to totally rely on a bit of spin with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav's X-factor. Definitely, India's bowling stocks are a little worrisome."

Despite the series being 1-1 heading into the decider in Visakhapatnam, Team India's bowling has struggled, conceding over 330 to the Proteas in both ODIs.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
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