Washington Sundar endured another disappointing outing with both bat and ball during Team India’s shocking 34-run defeat to Ireland in the first T20I in Belfast on Friday, June 26. The all-rounder gave away 19 runs in his only over and scored just nine runs off 12 balls in the chase, drawing criticism from fans and experts.
Sundar has continued to receive backing across formats in the Gautam Gambhir era. While he has proven valuable in the Test setup, particularly following Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, his performances in white-ball cricket have told a different story.
His stock in the limited-overs formats has steadily declined with each series, with his underwhelming numbers raising serious concerns. With crucial assignments ahead for Team India and several all-round options waiting in the wings, the team management may soon have to reconsider the extended run they have afforded Sundar.
With that in mind, here are three key reasons why Washington Sundar no longer appears to fit into Team India’s white-ball plans following the IRE vs IND 2026 first T20I.
#1 Unclear role and underwhelming execution
In the 26 T20I innings that Washington Sundar has batted, he has been shuffled across five different batting positions, yet the returns have remained underwhelming. With an average of 16.12 and a strike rate of 129.25, he has not done enough to justify promotion up the order or to be trusted with finishing responsibilities.
His bowling numbers may appear comparatively better, but there remains considerable uncertainty regarding his exact role in India’s attack. Whether he is viewed as a powerplay bowler, a backup option, or a matchup specialist against left-handers remains unclear, even after 61 T20I appearances since his debut in 2017.
The uncertainty around Washington Sundar’s role has grown under Gautam Gambhir, with the all-rounder completing his full quota in only three of 11 T20Is since the India tour of Sri Lanka 2024. His inconsistent usage and limited impact have raised serious questions over his place in the squad.
#2 An unclear and ineffective batting strategy
Washington Sundar has struggled to make a meaningful impact in any batting role in T20Is, whether as a floater, an anchor under pressure, or a finisher. His batting issues with Gujarat Titans, where he has found it difficult to adapt to a promoted middle-order role, have also carried over to Team India.
Sundar has neither shown the ability to maintain tempo when promoted up the order nor displayed the consistent explosiveness required of a finisher. In India’s current setup, where every player has a clearly defined role, he appears out of place.
In ODIs, Washington Sundar struggled in the middle order, failing to rotate strike or score timely boundaries. Since Gautam Gambhir took over, Sundar has scored just 126 runs in his last 10 ODI innings at an average of 14 and a strike rate of 78.75, a sharp decline after an impressive start to his ODI career.
#3 Not adding enough to the team’s balance or depth
Washington Sundar’s inclusion as an all-round option in the playing XI is meant to add balance, depth, and versatility to the side. However, those benefits have largely remained theoretical, with little evidence of his presence significantly improving the team’s on-field performance.
Without a clearly defined role or impactful performances, it is hard to determine how Sundar offers more value than the alternatives waiting on the bench. His selection also forces Team India to compromise on a specialist, which at times has proven more costly than the added depth he is expected to provide.
With India’s upcoming white-ball assignments set to be played outside the subcontinent, Sundar appears to be in an increasingly difficult position as he looks to retain his place in the limited-overs squads.
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