Washington Sundar has quietly but firmly established himself as a valuable asset in India’s cricket setup over the past year, particularly in the longer formats. The 25-year-old all-rounder has been a consistent performer for the national Test side and was also part of the Indian ODI squad that clinched the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
While his limited ODI appearances in 2024–25 — just four matches — might suggest otherwise, Sundar was part of a spin-heavy squad that played a key role in India’s success during the Champions Trophy. His utility as both a reliable off-spinner and a lower-order batter has made him a favorite for team balance, especially in multi-day and 50-over formats.
Sundar Left Out of India’s T20 Asia Cup Squad Despite Subcontinent Conditions
However, Sundar’s role in India’s T20 setup appears to be less assured. His recent exclusion from the 2025 Asia Cup T20 squad, despite the tournament being held in subcontinent conditions, has sparked conversations about his place in the shortest format.
India’s Asia Cup squad still boasts a formidable lineup, but the absence of a third all-rounder has drawn concern from former cricketer Mohammad Kaif. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kaif highlighted the importance of balance in a successful T20 team, pointing out how India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad relied heavily on three key all-rounders — Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya.
“Rohit’s team won the T20 World Cup with 3 all-rounders – Axar, Jadeja, Hardik – and that meant 6 proper bowling options and batting till 8. At Asia Cup, with only 2 genuine allrounders – Hardik and Axar – India will have to find a new winning combination. Washington Sundar will be missed,” Kaif wrote.
His remarks have resonated with many fans who view Sundar’s omission as a tactical gap, especially when T20s demand flexible all-round options.
IPL Struggles Affecting Sundar’s T20 Career?
One major reason for Sundar’s T20 exclusion lies in his inconsistent run in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Playing for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2025 season, Sundar made just six appearances, many of which came as an Impact Player substitute. It’s been five years since he last played over 10 games in an IPL season — back in 2020.
Without regular game time in the IPL, it becomes increasingly difficult for players to make a strong case for national T20 selection. While Sundar continues to contribute meaningfully in Tests and ODIs, his T20 career may need a resurgence in domestic or franchise cricket to force his way back into the reckoning.
As India experiments with new combinations in the Asia Cup and looks ahead to future T20 tournaments, the absence of a seasoned spin-bowling all-rounder like Washington Sundar might be felt more than expected.
