After the ODI World Cup heartbreak, the selectors have already begun plans for the coming white-ball tournaments and have started the transition process. All-rounder Washington Sundar, who has not been able to cement his spot in India’s first-choice white-ball XI, has been included in squad for IND vs AUS T20Is, starting on November 23.
The young all-rounder has been in and out of the squad for last 18 months but is likely to be regular member of the squad as Team India begin their preparations for coming ICC tournaments under Hardik Pandya.
Senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have not been part of India’s T20I plan since 2022 World Cup, are likely to be gradually eased out from ODI squad in next 12 months.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who received a last-minute call up in Team India’s World Cup squad, played only one game in the tournament. The veteran spinner is unlikely to play for India in white-ball format going forward.
Sundar, who made his India debut way back in 2017 against Sri Lanka, has been in exceptional form in last 12 months. Apart from being a good spinner, Sundar provides a left-handed batting option, which is a combination India have been desperately searching since the departure of Yuvraj Singh.
With Sundar set to become a regular member of the squad, it would be a golden opportunity for the Tamil Nad-born all-rounder to nail his spot in India’s white-ball XI.
India’s squad for IND vs AUS T20I series: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.