Do Gambhir, Gill and India know how to use Washi?

In six Tests now under Gautam Gambhir as head coach, Washington Sundar has batted at five different positions—3, 5, 7, 8 and 9—and averaged 54.

- Somshuvra Laha

Washington Sundar.

This phase has seen him score a second innings hundred at the drawn Manchester Test when India were 222/4 facing a first innings deficit of 311, a 46-ball 53 in the Oval Test that India won by six runs, bat out 92 balls in the second innings on a tricky pitch at Eden Gardens, and miss out ona fifty by just two runs here. Washington can bat, but do India know where they want him to bat?

Tt’s a question worth mulling now that it's becoming increasingly clear that India havea grave batting problem to deal with, especially at home. The coaching staff might frown at the suggestion that the decision to send him one down at Eden Gardens had shades of their T20 strategy of maintaining a left-right batting combination, but itworked nevertheless.

To go back on that decision at the Guwahati Test was surprising but understandable, given India would be wanting a specialised batter to eventually occupy that spot. The pitch and the scenario called for a mature, stabilising innings from Sai Sudharsan buthe failed. Washington though keeps onscoring.