Former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta has shed light on potential changes in India’s XI for the Super 8 clash against South Africa. The former Bengal gloveman said the choice between Washington Sundar and Axar Patel will depend on Arshdeep Singh’s availability in the playing XI.
Axar Patel, the team’s vice-captain, was rested against the Netherlands and in his place Washington Sundar had played in the final XI. Sundar had returned with figures of 0-36 in his quota of four overs and he could be used against Quinton de Kock in the Powerplay overs.
Dasgupta said Patel will be part of the playing XI if Arshdeep Singh is there whereas Sundar could be preferred if the left-arm seamer is dropped.
“If Arshdeep is playing, they might go with Axar. If Arshdeep is not playing, I would rather go with Washington, and the reason is bowling with the new ball, which Washington does for you regularly, the first two overs. There is nothing much to choose between Axar and Washington,” Deep Dasgupta said on Star Sports.
“I think one thing that might tilt the scales towards Washington is whether Arshdeep is playing or not, because I think what you need is (Jasprit) Bumrah’s freedom of four overs. You can use Bumrah whenever you want to. You don’t want to tie him up. I think two choices need to be made and those are interconnected,” he added.
Dasgupta said there is a good chance that India will persist with Washington Sundar given the number of left-handers in South Africa’s side.
“Looking at South Africa and their batting lineup, they have a fair number of left-handers, three in the top six. So that is a possibility, and maybe that’s the reason that they played Washington in the last game, so he gets a little bit of a hang of this World Cup, and gets into this World Cup,” he said.
“So maybe they might want to continue with Washington Sundar. Also, when you are looking at batting, you might not need Axar Patel’s batting as much at No. 8, and Washington is no mug with the bat either,” Dasgupta observed.
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
