Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized the decision to include Washington Sundar in the Playing XI for the Sydney Test, labeling it a significant error by the team management. Sundar was selected for the crucial match over players such as Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan. The Indian management opted for two spin all-rounders on a pitch that favored fast bowlers, a strategy that proved ineffective as Washington bowled only one over when the outcome of the match was nearly determined. Additionally, he did not make a notable contribution with the bat, scoring merely 14 and 12 runs.

Manjrekar expressed his discontent, stating that including Sundar, who managed just one half-century in six innings during the series, was a mistake given the conditions at the SCG.

"It is astonishing to consider the importance of a position in the Indian Test XI during a high-profile series. Aside from that fifty, Washington Sundar has not made significant contributions with the bat. While I believe he is a talented bowler, his selection is justified only on turning pitches abroad. With Jadeja already in the lineup, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, I found Sundar's inclusion to be a miscalculation on such a pitch," Sanjay Manjrekar remarked to ESPNCricinfo.

India had Rohit Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Harshit Rana available on the bench, yet Gautam Gambhir and the team management chose to proceed with Sundar to enhance both their bowling and batting options.

‘India went the England way, when England was not winning’

Manjrekar stated that England opted for a strategy that involved selecting players with dual capabilities, a decision that ultimately did not benefit the English team. This marked the first occasion in a decade that India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having previously triumphed during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours in Australia, where they relied on specialists in their playing eleven.

"In the last two tours to Australia, India did not include any player primarily for their secondary skill. The focus was always on their primary skill, which was sufficient for selection. The additional skill was merely an advantage. In this instance, I believe India adopted a similar approach to England, despite England's lack of success," he further remarked.

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