Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif questioned the team’s combination for the 2025 Asai Cup. Kaif said India won the T20 World Cup 2024 as they had three all-rounders in the team – Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, Kaif highlighted that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has picked two genuine all-rounders in the Asia Cup squad – Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. The Natwest Trophy final hero said Washington Sundar will be missed. Sundar is part of India’s stand-by players list along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna, and Riyan Parag.
Kaif wrote on X, “Rohit’s team won the T20 World Cup with 3 all-rounders – Axar, Jadeja, Hardik – and that meant 6 proper bowling options and batting till 8. At the Asia Cup, with only 2 genuine all-rounders – Hardik and Axar. – India will have to find a new winning combination. Washington Sundar will be missed”.
Meanwhile, Sundar can deliver with both bat and ball. The off-spinner can also bowl in the Powerplay overs and he can also deliver with the bat while batting down the order.
Sundar recently scored 284 runs in four Test matches against England at an average of 47.33, including a match-saving century at Old Trafford, Manchester. Furthermore, the off-spinner picked seven wickets in four Test matches.
Sundar has picked 48 wickets in 54 T20I matches for India.
India, eight-time Asia Cup champions, open their campaign against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium on September 10.
India Squad for Asia Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
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