Washington Sundar’s place in India’s ODI setup has become one of the more intriguing talking points of the current series. The young all-rounder is working through a demanding phase in the 50-over format, yet the team management insists he remains central to their plans. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate offered a detailed view of where Sundar fits and how India sees his long-term potential.
Sundar’s batting at the back end of an innings has come under scrutiny in recent matches. In Ranchi, he made 13 off 18 balls, and in Raipur, he managed 1 off 7. Both knocks slowed India at crucial moments and highlighted the challenges of a role that requires instant acceleration.
At Friday’s nets in Visakhapatnam, there was a noticeable focus on power-hitting. As reported by PTI, Sundar, under the watch of head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, spent long spells practising lofted strokes against local pacers and spinners. Ten Doeschate said the team is building clarity around what is now a specialised job.
“Washi is still learning when it comes to batting,” he said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the 3rd ODI. “Coming in during the late overs is a very specific role, and he knows what he wants to improve.”
BOWLING ROLE DRIVEN BY MATCH-UPS
While Sundar’s batting is being sharpened, his bowling has also seen limited use this year. He has played only five ODIs in 2025 and bowled his full ten overs in just one of them. Ten Doeschate explained that this stems from match-up decisions rather than any drop in confidence.
“As a finger spinner, you need the right match-ups against left-handers or right-handers,” he said. “Washi is one of our six bowlers, and with Jadeja and Kuldeep also in the side, there are conditions where we will not bowl more than 20 overs of spin.”
Despite the reduced workload, India believes Sundar has handled his challenges well.
“It will not affect his confidence,” ten Doeschate said. “He has had a very good 12 to 16 months, and he has not given up in the last two games.”
As India prepares for the series decider, Sundar’s evolving role as a finisher and a match-up bowler continues to take shape, with the team backing him to grow into a key ODI asset.
– Ends
