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"Impossible to be good": Dinesh Karthik feels Sundar's no. 3 promotion may hurt his bowling

Akshita Patel

DK on Sundar's promotion [Source: @Manojkumar_099, @GillTheWill77/X.com]DK on Sundar's promotion [Source: @Manojkumar_099, @GillTheWill77/X.com]

Washington Sundar was tasked with the unexpected responsibility of batting at No. 3 in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens. However, Dinesh Karthik is sceptical of the promotion, saying Sundar’s bowling might take a hit.

While India collapsed around Sundar, the all-rounder fought with composure, showing the qualities of a dependable top-order batter. 

But not everyone is convinced the experiment should continue.

DK thinks India’s Washington Sundar experiment might backfire

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has issued a strong warning to the team management. According to him, promoting Washington Sundar to No. 3 may help stabilise the batting, but it could seriously hurt his primary skill, which is bowling. 

“Where is Washington Sundar the Test player, being looked at? Is he a bowler who can bat? Now if you are sending him at three, you are almost telling him that he needs to focus a lot more on batting," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Karthik believes that sending Sundar so high up in the order sends a clear message that India now expects big runs from him. And with that comes a major shift in focus.

He explained that if Sundar spends long hours preparing for top-order batting, he will naturally have less time and less physical energy to work on his bowling.

"The moment he starts spending those long hours for batting in practice, you tend to reduce your practice for bowling because it is physically impossible to be good at both. So the message is very straightforward that we are looking at big runs from you. This could affect his bowling in the long run. It is a very tricky one,” he added.

According to him, India must be careful not to unintentionally turn Washington Sundar from a bowling all-rounder into primarily a batter who bowls occasionally.

Washington Sundar at crossroads

The dilemma now is clear: Should India continue grooming Washington Sundar as a top-order batter or protect him as a frontline spinner who adds valuable runs down the order?

With India searching for stability at No. 3 after inconsistent performances, Sundar offers a rare combination of calmness and technique. But if his bowling fades because of this shift, the team risks weakening its attack, especially on turning tracks where two reliable spinners are crucial.

The coming Test against South Africa at Guwahati will reveal whether this bold experiment becomes a masterstroke or a long-term setback.