India’s highly anticipated Super 8 clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad turned into an eye opener for the Men in Blue.
Inclusion of Washington Sundar ahead of vice-captain Axar Patel turned into a blunder for Team India. On paper, the move was justified as a match-up tactic; South Africa had three left-handers in their batting lineup, and Sundar’s off-spin was seen as a counter. But cricket is not played on paper, and the decision proved disastrous.
Washington bowled just two overs in the entire match, highlighting the lack of trust even from the captain. His batting, too, offered little resistance. In contrast, Axar Patel’s experience, subtle variations, and ability to contribute with the bat could have been invaluable on Ahmedabad’s black soil wicket. Axar has thrived in similar conditions before, and his exclusion was baffling, especially considering this was his home turf.
This decision reflected a larger issue: India’s tendency to overthink match-ups instead of trusting proven performers. Gambhir’s preference for Washington Sundar, across formats, may have been rooted in personal bias, but in a high-stakes World Cup clash, such experiments are risky. The result was a weakened bowling attack and a middle order that lacked depth.
