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Mohammad Kaif questions team management’s decision to send injured Washington Sundar to bat
Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has criticised the Indian team management for a risky and unnecessary decision during India’s first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday. Kaif expressed concern over the choice to send Washington Sundar out to bat despite the all-rounder clearly struggling with an injury.
In the first ODI, India were chasing a stiff target of 301 runs when Sundar, who had sustained a side strain earlier in the match, was asked to walk out to the middle. It is worth noting that during New Zealand’s innings, Sundar was forced to cut short his bowling spell after completing just five overs.
"You will remember when Shubman Gill was injured, he did not come out to bat in that Test match, the Kolkata Test. It was a high-scoring game, and people thought that even 20 or 30 runs from him could help India win, but he still did not bat. That was done to give full protection to the player so the injury would not aggravate. But the same approach was not applied with Sundar. That is why I feel it was a wrong call. KL Rahul's running between the wickets was affected. Even though India won the match, I feel there were higher chances of aggravating the injury in yesterday's game," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Though India won the game, Kaif questioned the judgment of the Gautam Gambhir-led team management
"I believe that was a wrong call. You could have sent Kuldeep, or anyone else, even Siraj or Prasidh Krishna, if you just needed to play out the run-a-ball situation. Only when it becomes absolutely unavoidable, right at the end, should you send Washington Sundar," Kaif said.
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