Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes Gautam Gambhir's decision to include Washington Sundar in SCG Playing XI

Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly criticized the decision to include Washington Sundar in the Playing XI for the Sydney Test, labeling it a major mistake by the team management. Sundar was given a spot in the crucial match over more experienced players like Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan. Despite the pitch favoring fast bowlers, the Indian management opted for two spin all-rounders, a move that ultimately proved unsuccessful. Washington ended up bowling only one over in the entire match, and that too when the game was effectively over. His contributions with the bat were also minimal, managing scores of just 14 and 12. Manjrekar's criticism highlights the questionable decision-making that may have cost the team dearly in the series decider.

Manjrekar didn't hold back and said including Sundar, who scored just one half-century in 6 innings this series, in the playing XI on the SCG wicket was a blunder.

"It's crazy when you think of an important place in that Indian Test XI in a marquee series. Barring that fifty, Washington Sundar hasn't contributed with the bat much. I think he's a highly talented bowler. But, he has a place when the pitch is turning overseas. And with Jadeja already there, Nitish Kumar Reddy as well, plus Washington Sundar as well. I thought his selection was a blunder on a pitch like this," Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

India had Rohit Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Harshit Rana on the bench, but Gautam Gambhir and team management went ahead with Sundar to add depth to both their bowling and batting.

‘India went the England way, when England was not winning’

Manjrekar asserted that England chose to go England's way by picking players with dual skills, which didn't work for the English tea as well. It was the first time in the last decade that India lost the BGT title as it emerged victorious during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours Down Under, where it chose to go with specialists in the XI.

"The last two tours to Australia, India didn't have a single player who was played because of his second skill. They always focused on his main skill and that was good enough to get him into the side. The other skill was a bonus. Here, I thought India went the England way, when England was not winning," he further added.

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