He can be a wonderful asset for India – Saba Karim backs Washington Sundar for Bangladesh ODIs

Former Indian opener Saba Karim has backed Washington Sundar for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh. Sundar recently impressed in the ODI series against New Zealand while batting in the lower middle order.

The left-hander scored a cameo of 16-ball 37 in the first match of the series to help the tourists post 306 runs on the board. Subsequently, the southpaw scored 51 runs off 64 balls in the third game of the series to help the team get to a respectable score.

Furthermore, Sundar can be economical with the ball and he can also bowl accurately in the PowerPlay overs.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja was earlier named in the squad for the Bangladesh series but he was later withdrawn from the squad as he is yet to fully recover from his knee injury. Thus, Washington Sundar is expected to get his opportunities as a spin-bowling all-rounder.

“I would still stick at number seven for Washi (Washington) Sundar because I look at him as a bowling all-rounder, he can be a wonderful asset for the Indian side. That really lengthens the batting and helps the team to go hard in the middle overs knowing that you have Washington Sundar coming at number seven or eight, depending upon the team’s composition,” Karim was quoted as saying by IANS.

India will also welcome back Hardik Pandya into the squad whereas Shahbaz Ahmed can also play the spin bowling all-rounder role. Karim reckons Ahmed also deserves his chances in the team given his consistent run in the domestic circuit.

“I look at him as a viable alternative as a batting all-rounder. On one hand, you have Hardik Pandya, who is a batting all-rounder and can bowl seam-up. I then look at Shahbaz Ahmed as a batting all-rounder who can bowl left-arm spin.

“Depending on the combination, you can easily fit him in because the kind of performances he has put in for India A and Bengal for the past two, or three seasons have been massive. I am sure he will get more opportunities at the international level and will deliver some stellar performances,” Karim added.

The first ODI between Bangladesh and India will be played on Sunday.