I've been asking myself this question for quite some time now, and after watching the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast, I genuinely think it's time Indian cricket confronts an uncomfortable reality.
What exactly is Washington Sundar's role in India's T20
team anymore?
This isn't about one bad match.
Every international cricketer has bad days. Even the
greatest players do.
This is about a pattern that has continued for years.
Against Ireland, India needed contributions from its
senior players. Sundar wasn't even required for most of the innings with the
ball, but when he finally came on, he conceded 19 runs in a single over at a
crucial stage. Then, during the chase, when India desperately needed someone to
keep the scoreboard moving, he scored 9 off 12 balls before getting out.
Unfortunately, this wasn't surprising.
It felt like déjà vu.
The Promise That Never Quite Became Reality
When Washington Sundar burst onto the scene, he looked
like the complete modern cricketer.
He bowled accurate off-spin in the powerplay.
He looked calm with the bat.
He was athletic in the field.
Everyone thought India had found the perfect T20
all-rounder.
The problem is that potential can only buy you so much
time.
After several years in international cricket, players
should no longer be judged on what they might become. They
should be judged on what they consistently deliver.
That's where the questions begin.
Batting: Waiting for the Big Knock
Whenever people defend Sundar, one argument comes up repeatedly:
"He never gets enough chances to bat."
Fair enough.
But when those chances have come, how many memorable
innings can we honestly recall?
How many times has he walked in under pressure and
finished games?
How many times has he changed the momentum with fearless
hitting?
Modern T20 cricket is ruthless.
If you're batting at No. 6, 7 or 8, you're expected to
score quickly.
Nine runs from twelve balls while chasing a big target
simply isn't enough.
Bowling: Economy Alone Doesn't Win T20 Games
There was a time when Sundar's economy rate made him
invaluable.
He could tie down opposition batters in the powerplay.
But T20 cricket has evolved dramatically.
Captains now want bowlers who don't just contain, they
want bowlers who take wickets.
Breaking partnerships wins matches.
Creating pressure by dismissing dangerous batters wins
tournaments.
If a bowler isn't regularly taking wickets and
occasionally has expensive outings like the one against Ireland, selectors have
every right to ask whether someone else deserves the opportunity.
The Biggest Question: What Does He Do Better
Than Anyone Else?
This is the question that keeps bothering me.
Every player in an international team should have a
standout skill.
Some are explosive finishers.
Some are strike bowlers.
Some are exceptional fielders.
Some are genuine all-round match-winners.
What is Washington Sundar's defining skill today?
He's a decent batter.
A decent bowler.
A decent fielder.
But in international cricket, "decent" is
rarely enough.
It's Also About the Players Waiting
This isn't personal.
Washington Sundar has served Indian cricket well. His
performances in Test cricket, especially in difficult overseas
conditions, deserve immense respect.
But T20 cricket is a completely different format.
India has an incredible pool of young all-rounders who
are hungry, fearless and naturally suited to the demands of modern T20 cricket.
Every match given to an underperforming player is one
less opportunity for someone waiting to prove themselves.
Competition should reward current performance, not past
promise.
Selection Should Reflect Performance
This isn't a call to write off Washington Sundar as a
cricketer.
Far from it.
He remains a valuable asset in longer formats, where his
temperament and skill set are better suited.
But India's T20 team has different requirements.
It needs players who can influence games
consistently, with explosive batting, wicket-taking bowling, or both.
If you look honestly at Washington Sundar's T20 career,
those match-winning performances have simply been too few and too far between.
Perhaps the hardest decisions in sport are also the most
necessary.
For me, this feels like one of them.
Maybe it's finally time for India to thank Washington
Sundar for his contributions and begin investing in the next generation of T20
all-rounders.
Because international cricket isn't about what a player
was expected to become.
It's about what they're delivering today.
Pic Courtesy: Internet
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