Former Indian batter Sadagopan Ramesh believes India could rest Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in their last Group fixture against the Netherlands. Bumrah and Pandya had opened the innings against Pakistan and returned with two wickets apiece.
While Bumrah bagged 2-17 in his two overs, Pandya returned with figures of 2-16 in three overs he bowled against the arch-rivals. However, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said India won’t do any experiments and will likely back the same playing XI against the Dutch.
Sadagopan Ramesh said on Star Sports, “Bumrah might be rested as he’s much-needed when India progresses further in the tournament. They could also rest Hardik Pandya. So there might be one or two such changes unless the players themselves want to play. You can’t do anything if Bumrah himself wants to play.”
“India might also rest anyone who might be carrying a niggle for this match. India has a great cushion that the players coming in are equally impressive. Even someone like Arshdeep missed the last match, and Siraj is waiting in the wings, so the options are too many.”
The former flamboyant batter said it won’t make any sense to play Washington Sundar in place of Kuldeep Yadav after giving the latter only one game.
Ramesh added, “He can come in but the question is in the place of whom. You can’t give Kuldeep one game and replace him with Washington. It will be unfair. If someone like Hardik Pandya wants a rest, because it’s the Netherlands, another spinner like Washington Sundar can play in his place. If you feel somewhere down the line, Washington might play a role, then definitely play him.”
Meanwhile, Shivam Dube scored a crucial cameo of 27 runs off just 17 balls against Pakistan and Ramesh showered praise on the left-hander.
“When they picked him, the thought was that he can be an extraordinary hitter on subcontinent wickets, especially against spin. It was good to see Shivam Dube have the maturity and realize it wasn’t a 200 wicket against Pakistan. So he took his chances only when it was needed to get the total to around 175. He neither went too early nor too late and timed his knock to perfection,” he said.
India will take on the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
