India vs Australia 3rd Test: Cheteshwar Pujara suggests Washington Sundar to return and Harshit Rana to keep his spot for Brisbane | Cricket News

Indian batting in both innings was bundled out within 81 overs as a whole in the second Test in Adelaide. The side managed 180 in the first innings after opting to bat first and 175 in the second innings. Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara would suggest replacing R Ashwin with Washington Sundar for the third Test in Gabba to extend the batting order.
“I feel only change might happen. Since the batting wasn’t good, Washington Sundar can come in place of R Ashwin,” Pujara said on Star Sports. Ashwin played a cameo in the first innings but could not contribute much in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. Sundar who played in the first Test at Perth chipped in with a gritty 29 in the second innings and fell for a low score in the first.
However, Sundar does possess the experience of playing in Brisbane from his last tour to Australia, when he scored a crucial 62 in the first innings of the Test which turned out to be a crucial contribution later in helping India win the game three wickets.
In addition to batting the other concern the Indian team had was how would India pick wickets once Jasprit Bumrah was done with his spell. Harshit Rana who had a decent outing in Perth was taken apart in Adelaide conceding 86 runs from 16 overs. However, Pujara conceded that he would stick with Rana for another game.
Should someone come in place of Harshit Rana? In my opinion – no. You backed him and he performed well in the first match. The second match was bad for him,” he said. “However, the team will have to support him. He is a good bowler. You cannot drop him just because one match went bad. We will have to see what the team management thinks but probably only change for me – if they feel the batting lineup needs strengthening, Washington can play for Ashwin,” Pujara observed