Border Gavaskar Trophy: Why is Washington Sundar not playing India vs Australia 2nd Test? Check out India Playing 11

In a massive breaking news update, the Indian cricket team are not playing their premier spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar for the second Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia being hosted at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. The visiting Indian team will definitely be very much high on confidence as they are coming into this game on the back of an exceptional 295-run victory in the opening Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy especially after that recent humiliating 0-3 series whitewash suffered at the hands of New Zealand at home. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian side have already taken a 1-0 lead in the IND vs AUS five-match Test series. 

Border Gavaskar Trophy: Why is Washington Sundar not playing India vs Australia 2nd Test?

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Indian captain Rohit Sharma informed that Washington Sundar is not part of the India Playing 11 as senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin makes his return after sitting on the bench during the Australia vs India Perth Test match. First, while speaking in favour of Washington Sundar, the lanky off-spinner ended up taking as many as two wickets and scored 29 runs off 94 balls in the second innings of the opening Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test match. The southpaw batter also smashed a valuable unbeaten knock of 42 runs off only 36 deliveries in the India vs Prime Minister's XI pink-ball warm-up match. Sundar was suddenly drafted into the India playing XI during the second Test match against New Zealand at home. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in the India vs New Zealand three-match Test series ahead of the senior spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, having taken as many as 16 wickets from 2 Tests at an impressive average of 14.12. 

On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin was very brilliant with the ball during the AUS vs IND Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 where he ended up picking a total of 12 wickets from 3 Test matches and moreover, he had the upper hand over Australia's star batting duo of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne throughout the series. Despite such a fantastic performance, it was really surprising when the team management decided to leave out Ashwin for the first Test match in Perth. It was also reported that the senior offie was bowling really well in the nets and with the inclusion of Rohit and Shubman Gill, India have the luxury to play their senior wicket-taking spinner in Ashwin, who has some experience of playing with the pink ball. 

"We are going to bat first. Looks a good pitch, looks a bit dry at the moment, enough grass covering as well. It'll have some carry for the fast bowlers. As the game goes on, it'll get better to bat on. There will be something in it for everyone. It's going to be a good game. I have been here for two weeks now. Had a good hit in the nets, played a game as well, ready to go now. (Mood in the dressing room) It is pretty good, pretty vibrant. We've played a really good Test match in Perth, it was superb to watch from the outside. What the boys did was superb.It's just about carrying that into this Test match. It's a long series, we just want to focus on how we can get the results in our favour, we'll try and do most things right in this game. I am happy, the fast bowlers are happy as well (with the break). The breaks are welcome. Momentum is also important. We want to carry from where we left. We have made 3 changes. I am back, Gill is back. Ashwin is back. I am batting in the middle order which is different, but I am ready for the challenge," said Indian captain Rohit Sharma during the toss. 

India have made as many as three changes in the IND vs AUS 2nd Test match with the trio of Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel not being part of the playing XI. Rohit Sharma is back as the Indian captain while Shubman Gill also returns after recovering completely from a thumb injury due to which he missed the opening Test match. 

India Playing 11

1. KL Rahul
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Shubman Gill
4. Virat Kohli
5. Rishabh Pant (wk)
6. Rohit Sharma (C)
7. Nitish Reddy
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Harshit Rana
10. Jasprit Bumrah
11. Mohammed Siraj

India squad for Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep