“Big Surprise For Me”- Aakash Chopra On Washington Sundar’s Exclusion From South Africa Test Squad

Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has recently said that Washington Sundar’s exclusion from the Indian Test squad took him by surprise. The Indian team is currently in South Africa preparing for the first Test which starts from December 26. Ravichandran Ashwin and Jayant Yadav are the only two spinners in the squad.

Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are ruled out of the Test series due to injury. Ashwin and Jayant are the only two specialist spinners in the side. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra was asked about Washington Sundar’s exclusion from India’s Test squad for the South Africa series even though he was a regular member of the team before his injury.

“I am totally in agreement with you, that where is he? That is a bit of a surprise for me. I am surprised why no one is talking about it because all your spinners are injured. Jadeja got injured, Axar got injured, in any case you don’t play any leg-spinner in Test cricket, you don’t want to bring back Kuldeep Yadav in the team” said Chopra.

https://youtu.be/SlfZ_nvhMos

Washington Sundar Would Have Been A Perfect Replacement For Ravindra Jadeja: Aakash Chopra

While he supported Yadav’s selection, Chopra said that Sundar would have been a perfect replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.

“You have rewarded Jayant Yadav for the job he did in the Mumbai Test but only Jayant Yadav with Ashwin, that’s about it. You have not even thought about Washington. If you are searching the balance, assuming you want to play two spinners with three fast bowlers, at times you may want to do that, so Washi fits easily in the spot Jadeja left. He fits there perfectly.”

Aakash Chopra further said that the selectors should have revealed the reasons for not picking up the Indian all-rounder.

“But not to consider him at all, don’t talk about him at all, no one even told if he is injured or unavailable or why he has not been picked, that is not right.”

Washington Sundar missed the Test series against England due to a finger injury. Since then, he also missed the T20 World Cup followed by the home Test series against the Kiwis.

---