"Send Sundar ahead of Jurel" - Former KKR batter's advice for Team India ahead of Day 5 of 2nd IND vs SA 2025 Test 

Former India opener and ex-KKR batter Aakash Chopra has advised the hosts to send Washington Sundar ahead of Dhruv Jurel on Day 5 of the Guwahati Test against South Africa. According to Chopra, Sundar has been India's best batter in the series and can help the team draw the Test by holding fort at one end.

Heading into Day 5 of the second Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India are staring at a 2-0 series defeat. Set to chase a massive target of 549, they went to stumps on Day 4 at 27-2, with both Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) and KL Rahul (6) back in the pavilion.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra suggested that India must tweak their batting order and sent Sundar in at the fall of the next wicket. He commented:

"Change Washington Sundar’s batting order. Of course, Kuldeep Yadav is in right now and has faced a few balls. Send Washington Sundar ahead of Dhruv Jurel. Anyways, you are not looking at the left-right combination as you have sent Kuldeep Yadav in to bat with Sai Sudarshan.

"I am talking about Washi because, in this series, India's best batter is actually Washington Sundar. And you want that one session or one-and-a-half session, where you do not lose a wicket at least from one side. If that happens, then those partnerships may develop. Eventually, towards the end of the day, winning is not possible. But, drawing a Test is an art."

At stumps on Day 4 of the India-South Africa Guwahati Test, Sai Sudharsan was batting on two and Kuldeep on four.

---

"You will only get humiliation and embarrassment" - Aakash Chopra on India potentially losing Guwahati Test

India are all set to lose the series against South Africa irrespective of how they bat on Day 5 in Guwahati. Chopra, however, pointed out that there is enough motivation for the hosts to try and push for a draw. Referring to the ongoing WTC, the 48-year-old commented:

"Four points [for draw] will give you 16% points. I know it's not great, but losing means nothing. You will only get humiliation and embarrassment. You won't get any points to show. And next 10 months, you are not playing any Test cricket. So, try and bat for three sessions and draw the Test."

Apart from Sundar, skipper Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy will be expected to come up with resilient efforts as India look to salvage some pride on Day 5 in Guwahati.