Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned India’s captain Shubman Gill’s tactics after Washington Sundar was not given a single over on the second day of the fourth Test match against England. After India was bowled out for 358, England raced to 225-2 in 46 overs, but Gill didn’t throw the ball towards Sundar.
The off-spinner had impressed in England’s second innings at Lord’s, accounting for the home team’s captain Ben Stokes, veteran batter Joe Root, England’s highest run-getter in the series, Jamie Smith, and Shoaib Bashir. Sundar had returned with figures of 4-18 and had played an instrumental role in skittling the hosts at 192.
“What I found the most surprising today was that Washington Sunar was not given an over. That was hugely surprising. Last innings at Lord’s, he picked up four wickets and ample control. Washington always bowls with control, and in today’s game, where the run rate was over five runs an over, he was not given the ball only. I admit that Jadeja was brought on, he is the senior bowler and all that, but Sundar could have been given 3-4 overs from the other end,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin reckons Gill overbowled Mohammed Siraj, who delivered 10 overs and conceded 58 runs without a wicket.
“There was a left-hander in Ben Duckett, he could have bowled around the wicket to Zak Crawley, keep it tight, stump-to-stump. When Liam Dawson can come and try and hold one end up, the Indian spinners also have skill. That would have given Siraj some rest as well. I feel that Siraj was overbowled, and he also overtried,” Ashwin added.
The former Indian all-rounder said if India fails to pick Joe Root’s wicket early on day three, then it would be difficult for them to bounce back in the fourth Test.
“If India do not pick Joe Root and a couple other wickets in the opening hour on Day 3, it is probably looking really gloomy for them. If India can manage to hold England to 400-425, they are in the game. But, if England bat big and score 500, Root scores a hundred, then it would be a real uphill task,” Ashwin concluded.
England trails by 133 runs, and India would be in search of some quick wickets on Friday.
