Cheteshwar Pujara backs Washington Sundar to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in Brisbane Test against Australia

India’s veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara wants Washington Sundar to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the Brisbane Test match against Australia. Ashwin replaced Sundar in the pink-ball Test but could only take a solitary wicket in the first innings.

On the other hand, Sundar returned with figures of 2-48 in the second innings at Perth. Pujara reckons Sundar will add more strength to the batting unit if he replaces Ashwin in the final XI. 

Sundar had also bagged 16 wickets in two Test matches against New Zealand whereas Ashwin could only take nine wickets in three Tests against the Kiwis at an average of 41.22.

Pujara reckons India should keep backing Harshit Rana, who went wicketless at Adelaide and also bagged a pair.

“I feel only change might happen. Since the batting wasn’t good, Washington Sundar can come in place of R Ashwin. Should someone come in place of Harshit Rana? In my opinion – no. You backed him and he performed well in the first match. The second match was bad for him,” Pujara said on Star Sports show Follow the Blues.

“However, the team will have to support him. He is a good bowler. You cannot drop him just because one match went bad. We will have to see what the team management thinks but probably only change for me – if they feel the batting lineup needs strengthening, Washington can play for Ashwin,” Pujara observed.

On the other hand, former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla disagreed with Pujara and said India should keep backing Ashwin as he bowled a tight spell at Adelaide.

“I think India should continue with Ashwin because he bowled 18-odd overs in that Adelaide Test, and he kept things really tight and picked up a wicket as well. So I don’t think you need to go back to Washington Sundar because Ashwin can also get the amount of runs Washington Sundar is getting for you,” he reasoned.

“However, you need one proper bowler because, any which way, India is going with just three fast bowlers and an all-rounder. So you need one spinner with that experience. So I don’t see that change,” Chawla added.

Chawla wants Akash Deep to replace Harshit Rana in the playing XI. Deep has impressed in his young Test career as he has picked 10 wickets in five matches.

“I can definitely see one change there – Harshit Rana making place for, I feel, Akash Deep because of what he has done against New Zealand. It was on good pitches. There was hardly anything for the faster bowlers. There also he bowled really well,” Chawla observed.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.