Report Wire

Tag: Washington Sundar

  • From Perth Bench to Retirement: Ashwin’s Honest Take

    Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin traced the roots of his Test retirement to a stinging omission in Perth during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar series. Pipped to the post by Washington Sundar—a less battle-hardened talent—the 37-year-old knew the writing was on the wall, leading to his post-Brisbane farewell.

    In Kolkata on Tuesday, Ashwin laid bare his emotions: ‘Senior bowler tag in Perth, but Vashi took the field. That sealed it for me.’ The episode highlighted a youth infusion strategy that reverberated through the squad.

    Backlash ensued over the handling of Ashwin, Rohit, and Kohli, with Gautam Gambhir trolled mercilessly online for allegedly forcing out icons. Ashwin begged to differ, lauding Gambhir’s philosophy. ‘I back Gautam fully. Team over self, collective glory—that’s his hallmark, and I love it.’

    On sustaining India’s prowess, Ashwin urged broadening the base. ‘Cricket here isn’t a one-man show; it’s enormous.’ Evoking bonds with Kohli and Sharma, he treasured their unity: ‘Losses never bred finger-pointing. We chased India’s wins with one heart.’

    His ledger: 106 Tests, 537 wickets, 37 fifers. For the transitioning side, Ashwin opined, ‘Change is here. Spin resistance is key, batting less so. Bowling elevation is critical.’ His perspective bridges past glories to future triumphs.

  • T20 WC: Aakash Chopra Urges India to Freeze XI vs West Indies for Semis Push

    With India’s T20 World Cup campaign at a crossroads, cricket pundit Aakash Chopra advocates radical continuity: field the same XI that humbled Zimbabwe against West Indies in the Super 8 decider on Sunday.

    Victory here punches India’s semifinal ticket in a match both teams treat as must-win. Reflecting on the Zimbabwe game, where Sanju Samson’s bold opening stint and Tilak Varma’s explosive 44* off 16 addressed key weaknesses, Chopra sees no reason for flux.

    “Team changes? Out of the question,” he stated on YouTube. “Chepauk warriors to Eden Gardens. Sundar or Kuldeep? Don’t ponder it. Seal matchups in a box. Knockouts demand trust in your eleven – quarterfinal equivalent, then semis, final.”

    The XI’s synergy shone: Axar Patel over Sundar enhanced balance, top-order aggression from Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fed into Suryakumar Yadav’s mastery, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube adding depth. Bowling led by Bumrah, Arshdeep, and spinners Axar-Varun was clinical.

    Likely unchanged lineup: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.

    Against a resurgent West Indies, India’s settled core offers psychological edge. Chopra’s wisdom, rooted in playing high-stakes cricket, underscores a truth: in World Cups, evolution stops at the knockouts. India, he believes, is primed for the kill.

  • Super 8 Toss Update: Zimbabwe Bowls First vs India in Chennai Clash

    Tension gripped MA Chidambaram Stadium as Zimbabwe triumphed at the toss in their Super 8 showdown with India, choosing to chase on a pitch Raza deemed seamer-friendly due to visible dampness.

    Strategic tweaks defined teams: India unleashes Washington Sundar over Axar Patel and recalls Sanju Samson ahead of Rinku Singh for glovework. Zimbabwe slots Tinotenda Maposa, replacing Kramer, to exploit conditions.

    Captains spoke volumes. Raza: ‘Pitch moisture screams swing. Cap India’s score low, and we dictate terms. Heat levels the field.’ Yadav: ‘Loss? No issue—we eyed batting. Boys primed: forget past, embrace fearless play. Changes confirmed: Sundar, Samson in.’

    Broader picture: SA’s 9-wicket rout of WI lifts India from NRR peril (-3.800, 3rd). Twin wins propel them forward. Table: SA (+2.890, 1st), WI (+1.791, 2nd), IND (3rd), ZIM (-5.350, 4th).

    India XI: Samson (†), A Sharma, Kishan, SK Yadav (¢), T Varma, H Pandya, S Dube, W Sundar, A Singh, V Chakaravarthy, J Bumrah. Zim XI: T Marumani (†), B Bennett, D Myers, R Burl, S Raza (¢), T Munyonga, T Musakanda, B Evans, T Maposa, B Muzarabani, R Ngarava.

    India’s batting firepower meets Zimbabwe’s bowling ambition—pure T20 spectacle awaits, with semifinal dreams on the line.

  • T20 WC 2026: Ashwin Blasts Selection Ignoring Axar Patel

    India’s 76-run capitulation against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 has ignited a firestorm of criticism from Ravichandran Ashwin. On ‘Aish ki Baat’, the spin wizard tore into the team’s choices, particularly the baffling omission of Axar Patel for Washington Sundar.

    Ashwin conceded IPL-style matchups have merit but insisted ICC events demand stability. ‘Less tinkering with the XI works wonders in World Cups,’ he argued. His strongest words targeted Axar’s snub: ‘He’s been indispensable in T20s. Never forget his service to the team.’

    Reliving the 2024 final, Ashwin praised Axar’s composure batting with Kohli to surpass 170 against South Africa. ‘Stability in the middle and wickets spared could’ve sealed the chase,’ he analyzed. Turning to batting woes, Ashwin lambasted Rinku Singh’s number 8 slot. ‘Rinku’s a finisher, not a tail-ender. South Africa hammered home the cost of poor prep.’

    Ashwin’s analysis serves as a wake-up call, blending tactical insight with emotional advocacy for proven performers as India plots its path forward in the tournament.

  • Rahane Blasts Team Management Over Axar Patel’s Exclusion

    Heartbreak in Ahmedabad: India suffered a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in a pivotal T20 World Cup Super 8 encounter. The Narendra Modi Stadium buzzed with disappointment, but fury peaked over dropping all-rounder Axar Patel for Washington Sundar. Seasoned batter Ajinkya Rahane led the charge, slamming the management for an inexplicable choice.

    Rahane pulled no punches: ‘Shocked that Axar was left out. What’s going on?’ Acknowledging Sundar’s skills, he argued Axar’s versatility and record against left-handers made him indispensable. Dismissing the strategy of countering SA’s left-rich lineup with off-spin, Rahane invoked Keshav Maharaj as proof that assumptions fail.

    ‘You play your best, proven assets – especially vice-captains,’ he asserted. Ten Doeschate revealed the rationale: countering de Kock, Rickelton, and Miller with powerplay-friendly spin. Sundar, however, faltered – 0/17 in two overs and 11 runs batting.

    Toss-won South Africa hit 187/7; India limped to 111. Semifinal dreams dimmed, this loss amplifies selection scrutiny. Rahane’s outspoken critique demands introspection, urging India to trust stars like Axar for tournament revival.

  • T20 WC Revelation: Why Team India Sidelined Axar Patel for Sundar

    Sunday’s 76-run loss to South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super-8 at Ahmedabad exposed cracks in India’s setup. None more glaring than benching Axar Patel, prompting assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate to unveil the reasoning.

    With South Africa’s top order brimming with left-handers like de Kock, Rickelton, and Miller, India banked on Washington Sundar’s off-spin for powerplay impact. Doeschate highlighted stats: Sundar’s 23 powerplay wickets against lefties (57 inns) outpace Axar’s 14 (62 inns).

    Axar’s strength lies elsewhere—63 middle-over wickets in 79 games dwarf Sundar’s 23 in 48, plus handy runs down the order. Sundar disappointed: 0/17 in two overs and 11 runs.

    South Africa, batting first post-toss, hit 187/7. India’s 111 all out sealed a morale-sapping defeat, clouding semifinal chances.

    Ten Doeschate’s transparency spotlights T20 evolution: matchup-specific picks over all-round reliability. As India regroups, Axar’s return looms large in recalibrating for glory.

  • Why Aiden Markram Poses India’s Biggest T20 WC Challenge: Aaron

    Sunday’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8 showdown at Narendra Modi Stadium pits unbeaten India against unbeaten South Africa in Ahmedabad. Former Team India speedster Varun Aaron has sounded the alarm, naming Proteas captain Aiden Markram as the prime threat to Indian aspirations.

    Aaron’s Star Sports analysis was pointed: ‘Markram’s a handful. He has the shots and technique to handle Bumrah head-on, even with Bumrah and Hardik dominating early overs.’ Expect intense battles up front.

    Markram’s T20 WC 2026 exploits are phenomenal: 178 runs from four innings in four matches, boasting a 59.33 average and 187.36 strike rate. Two half-centuries highlight his match-winning potential.

    Tailored against India, his stats shine brighter. 327 runs across 14 innings in 15 T20s, featuring two fifties, strike rate north of 131, and a high of 61. He’s a nemesis in the making.

    Delving into selections, Aaron recommended: ‘Washington Sundar for Kuldeep’s spot against South Africa. Rickelton, de Kock, and Miller demand spin control from an off-spinner like him.’

    The Proteas’ batting depth runs deep with de Kock, Rickelton, and Miller in sublime touch, all battle-tested on this ground. India’s bowlers face a stern examination.

    As group toppers clash, this fixture could define Super-8 trajectories. Both teams eye a statement win to build momentum towards glory.

  • T20 WC: Abhishek Sharma’s Ducks Mirror Rohit Sharma Legacy

    Wednesday’s T20 World Cup 2026 group finale in Ahmedabad saw India triumph by 17 runs over Netherlands at Narendra Modi Stadium. Amid celebrations, Abhishek Sharma’s fourth failure – his third straight duck – stole the headlines, matching Washington Sundar’s infamous streak.

    Pre-tournament buzz positioned Abhishek as India’s batting hope. Reality bit hard: first-ball out to USA, illness-kept Namibia bye, Pakistan four-ball duck, Netherlands three-ball end. Tournament batting average: 0.

    In T20I annals, only Sundar preceded him among Indians for three successive zeros. Shanaka’s 16 ducks is the pinnacle of pain; Rohit’s 12 anchors India’s list, Samson at seven.

    India’s win masked deeper concerns. Abhishek’s collapse underscores top-order fragility. Psychologists point to white-ball jitters; technicians scrutinize stance flaws. Whatever the cause, time is short.

    Rohit, duck connoisseur, leads by example in recovery. Young guns like Abhishek need similar resilience. Victory buys time, but super sixes demand consistency. Can India fix this before it unravels their campaign? The stakes couldn’t be higher.

  • Injured No More: Sundar Eager for T20 WC Namibia Battle

    Washington Sundar is back where he belongs—amid Team India’s T20 World Cup 2026 preparations, hyped for the Namibia encounter at Arun Jaitley Stadium. His post-injury zest has the camp buzzing ahead of Thursday’s marquee fixture.

    The off-spinner’s layoff began with an injury bowling in Vadodara against New Zealand ODIs, ruling him out for a month. Bengaluru rehab sharpened his edge, and a BCCI video of his Tamil dialogue drop confirmed the comeback king.

    Post high-octane training, Sundar beamed: ‘Feels awesome training here with the boys. Session was grueling yet rewarding—stellar fielding, loads of batting and bowling for me.’ He opened up on rehab: ‘Past three weeks were gold; hard yards to be tournament-fit. Match can’t come soon enough.’

    Spotted in drills Tuesday, bowling to Tilak with Kuldeep, and strategizing with Gambhir and Agarkar, Sundar’s integration is seamless.

    Riding high from USA win, India’s slate includes Namibia (12th), Pakistan (15th), and Netherlands (18th). Sundar’s all-round prowess could tilt scales.

    In a tournament of surprises, Sundar’s return injects reliability. Expect fireworks as India chases dominance.

  • Abhishek Sharma sidelined in Hospital: T20 WC Namibia Game in Doubt

    The Indian camp reels from a body blow as opener Abhishek Sharma battles a stomach infection serious enough for hospital admission, threatening to sideline him for the T20 World Cup Group Stage battle versus Namibia on February 12. This revelation from New Delhi intensifies the buildup to what was meant to be a straightforward outing.

    Tracing back, Abhishek’s troubles predated the USA clash, where a golden duck ended his stint prematurely. Fever escalated post-game, leading to drips and withdrawal from fielding, with Sanju Samson filling in seamlessly. Holed up in a private Delhi hospital, he’s undergoing tests, but discharge remains uncertain, clouding his starting spot.

    Contingencies are clear: Samson might tandem with Ishan Kishan up front. Tuesday’s media briefing saw assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate flag the concern while projecting a two-day recovery window.

    Silver linings abound. Washington Sundar has reported for duty ahead of Namibia, readying for net sessions. Jasprit Bumrah, revitalized after a 10-day hiatus, is back bowling fluidly and optimistic about contributions.

    In the T20 World Cup’s unforgiving arena, such setbacks forge character. India’s depth will be scrutinized, turning potential crisis into opportunity against Namibia.