Washington Sundar to replace Ravi Ashwin for Brisbane Test? Cheteshwar Pujara predicts

India's batting prowess, or lack thereof, was laid bare in the pink-ball Test against the Kangaroos. Mitchell Starc posted his career-best figures in the format as he rattled the Indian lineup with a 6/48 spell at Adelaide. The visitors, meanwhile, could not script a redemption like the Perth Test as they managed only 19 runs to defend in the second Test. Many of the team's shortcomings in the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy have become the topic of heated discussions. One of them is India's decision to play Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of Washington Sundar at Adelaide.

Cheteshwar Pujara predicts only one change in India's Playing XI for Brisbane Test

There is no debate that Sundar provides ideal depth to the Indian batting order. However, when selecting the team for the Adelaide Test, India chose to play Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of the young all-rounder. This decision might have been influenced by the return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to the team. With the mainstays providing stability to the order, Ashwin moved ahead of Sundar in the pecking order due to his impressive records at the Adelaide Oval. However, the match saw the Indians collapse like a house of cards against the Australian pace attack led by Mitchell Starc.

Amid the disappointments of Kohli, Rohit, Jaiswal, and Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy salvaged some pride with a counter-attacking 42-run knock in both innings. Reddy's resilient performance raised the question of whether India missed out on a reliable partnership option down the order by not selecting Sundar in Adelaide. Ashwin, meanwhile, scored 22 in India's first innings and took 1/53 with his bowling, though he was particularly punished by Travis Head. Subsequently, the spinner could only manage seven runs in India's second innings.

Now, as the team prepares for the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane, the question remains whether Sundar will return with the game shifting back to the red ball. Cheteshwar Pujara, part of India's squad during their last tour Down Under and now a part of the commentary box, has predicted the same. When asked about potential changes to India's Playing XI for the Brisbane Test, Pujara explained that the only possibility he could think of is Sundar replacing Ashwin. Moreover, the batter suggested that pacer Harshit Rana is likely to be given a longer rope despite his abysmal outing with the pink ball in Adelaide.

“I feel only one change might happen. Since the batting wasn't good, Washington Sundar can come in place of R Ashwin. Should someone come in place of Harshit Rana? In my opinion, no. You backed him and he performed well in the first match," said Pujara.