In the fifth T20I between India and Australia, Ashish Nehra doesn’t believe it’s worthwhile to give opportunities to players like Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube.
The Men in Blue has already won the series. The last unimportant game is set for Sunday in Bengaluru. Sundar and Dube, the two players of the Indian team, haven’t played in the series yet.
During a JioCinema conversation, Nehra was questioned if the two should play in the fifth T20I, to which he replied:
“Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube, the two names you have taken, are they a part of the team that’s going to South Africa? Are you looking towards them? I don’t think so. Still if you want to play them one match, what will you gain from that?”
Ashish Nehra
The former India bowler went on to say that players should not be given chances simply for the sake of it:
“That’s the most important thing because you are talking about international cricket here. You cannot think that this player hasn’t played a match, and although he is not in our scheme of things for South Africa, let’s play him a match.”
Ashish Nehra
Although Washington Sundar has been included to the Indian ODI and T20I teams for the South Africa tour, he may struggle to make the starting XI given the number of spinners selected. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube has not been selected for any of the multi-format tour squads.
“If not the entire XI, pretty much you will see 10 players being same” – Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra does not anticipate India to make much changes to their starting lineup. He reasoned:
“You should have a thinking for every match, the way this series has gone. The way you have played, if not the entire XI, pretty much you will see 10 players being same.
“If you talk about Shreyas Iyer, he wants to score runs. Jitesh Sharma wants to be given more opportunities.”
Ashish Nehra
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that players like Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar will demand more opportunities:
“If you talk about Avesh Khan, he has made a comeback. Mukesh Kumar is bowling well.
“When you are doing well, as a player, you want to be given as many chances as possible. You are talking about T20 cricket here, which is just a question of one-and-a-half hours (per innings).”
Ashish Nehra
Nehra emphasized that none of the players will want to be rested so quickly. He believes it will be tough for head coach VVS Laxman since everyone will claim that they are available.