Veteran India batter Hanuma Vihari applauded all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar for their match-winning knocks in the first ODI against England. Team India finally ended their losing run on the tour with a comfortable six-wicket win as well. Hanuma Vihari added that the team combination for the ODI game was perfect, with all-rounders creating a proper impact.

“Overall, the team combination was well set. Shivam Dube was used well as the fifth bowling option. In this format, all-rounders can create a lot of influence. Yes, they are important in T20s, but you need to have power hitters there. Axar and Sundar are not power hitters but can time the ball well. That power hitting was a problem in the T20Is. In ODIs, you don’t need power hitters because there is time to settle and play shots. These guys are perfect for this format at six, seven, and eight,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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“Axar and Washington scored good half-centuries. The reason they are slightly better in this format than T20 is that there is more time so you can get set and play your shots. Even if you look at Test cricket, these guys have the ability to score runs lower down the order. That’s why this format is best suited for them,” he again shared.

After last having played an ODI in the 2023 World Cup final, veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned to the format as well. Bumrah also bowled nine overs and returned figures of 1/31, which came at an economy rate of 3.4. He was exceptional with the new ball and also dismissed in-form England captain Harry Brook as well.

“Bumrah’s wicket of Harry Brook, I thought, was the game-changer. Brook is a destructive player and can take the game away from the opposition. That wicket at that time, I think, was the turning point of the game. Just look at how much difference one bowler can make. The way he bowled, it made a big difference,” he concluded.