The decision to add the 25-year-old was slightly surprising.
Just one day after dynamic young all-rounder Washington Sundar slammed a stellar ton in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25, he was added to the India squad for the remainder of the New Zealand Test series.
Washington Sundar scored a deft 150 against Delhi in a Ranji Trophy game, where he also picked up six wickets in total and now India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has revealed the reason behind his inclusion.
The decision to add the 25-year-old was slightly surprising given India already had spinning all-rounders in their ranks in the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin with Axar Patel on standby.
However, the former Dutch cricketer ensured that the decision was taken keeping in mind the opposition’s strengths.
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Clarifying the call, ten Doeschate said in a presser ahead of the IND vs NZ 2nd Test,
“Look, we’ve obviously got Axar in the squad as well. They’re filled with four left-handers in their 11. We want the option to take the ball away from the left-handers as well. You know, we’ve had Washi around the white ball squad for a while and we like the way he operates. It’s also nice to see that guys are getting rewarded for a Ranji Trophy performances as well.”
India currently trails the three-match Test series 1-0 after losing the opener in Bengaluru. However, in a much-neded boost for the hosts, India’s injured stars Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are likely to get the go-ahead in the decisive clash.
Gill, who missed the first match due a neck issue and Pant, who copped a blow to his knee in the first game will both ideally feature in the upcoming clash in Pune, Ryan ten Doeschate also told to the media.
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