Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie expressed his surprise over the batting positions of all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in India’s T20I XI and questioned why the former was batting above the Tamil Nadu batter in the side.
While Axar has regularly come in at No. 5 for India in the Australia tour, his fellow southpaw Sundar grabbed eyeballs with a blistering 49 not out to hand India their first win of the T20I series in Hobart last Sunday.
Walking in at the fall of Axar’s wicket at No. 6 in a 186-run chase, Sundar stole the show and helped India cross the line alongside Jitesh Sharma.
Gillespie lauded Sundar’s skills and added that Axar was batting a few spots above his utility in the batting order.
“I don’t know why he is batting below Axar Patel. That 49* was absolutely superb. He wasn’t intimidated by the Australian seamers and just looked to take it on. They’ve got a nice batting lineup. I just felt Axar Patel was one or two spots too high in that order. He’s a good player, no doubt. But he is probably more suited to subcontinent conditions,” said Gillespie on the Fast Bowling Cartel podcast.
Gillespie’s long-time Australia teammate and legendary seamer Glenn McGrath recalled his stints with Washington Sundar in Chennai.
“I’ve spent a little bit of time with Washington Sundar in Chennai when I’ve been coaching. He has just got a great attitude. He just goes and backs himself when he gets the opportunity.”
Roped in as a replacement for Kuldeep Yadav for his first outing in the series, Sundar surprisingly did not bowl in the match before turning the game around with the bat.
“I just try to wait for my opportunities. One thing I never want to do is chase results. Whenever an opportunity comes, I focus on what the situation and conditions demand, and play to my strengths. That way, I’m clearer in my mind and can truly enjoy the game. If I start thinking that I have to perform with the bat because I haven’t done much with the ball, it takes away the joy. As long as I follow my process and do what’s right for the team, that’s where the real satisfaction lies,” said Sundar after the match.
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