Former India player turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar questioned Team India’s team selection for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Sydney as well. He also named all-rounder Washington Sundar’s inclusion in the playing XI a blunder on a surface at the SCG that was made for fast bowlers. However, India went down to Australia by six wickets in the Sydney Test on Sunday, January 5 as well.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after the conclusion of the final BGT 2024-25 Test, Manjrekar said: “It’s crazy when you think of an important place in that Indian Test XI in a marquee series. Barring that fifty, Washington Sundar hasn’t contributed with the bat much. I think he’s a highly talented bowler. But, he has a place when the pitch is turning overseas. And with Jadeja already there, Nitish Kumar Reddy as well, plus Washington Sundar as well. I thought his selection was a blunder on a pitch like this.”

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“The last two tours to Australia, India didn’t have a single player who was played because of his second skill. They always focused on his main skill and that was good enough to get him into the side. The other skill was a bonus. Here, I thought India went the England way, when England was not winning,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sundar did not bowl a single over in Team India’s first innings in Sydney and bowled only one in the second innings, which turned out to be the last over of the match.