India’s biggest find across the last two Test series has been Washington Sundar, but it has come with a twist. The all-rounder, known for his exploits with the ball in white-ball cricket, has turned out to be an extremely reliable, gun batsman down the order, making heads turn with his stroke-making ability. After striking a match-winning 62 at the Gabba, Sundar pummelled an unbeaten 85 in the first Test in Chennai versus England and, earlier today, posted his highest score in Test cricket as he was left stranded on 96*. 

“Look I don’t have the authority to say where Washi should bat but ideally, when you have an upcoming talent like him, it makes logical sense for him to bat No.3 or No.4 when he goes back to this state team. In fact, Washi is an opening bat. I think he should go back to first-class cricket and start opening the batting,” Ashwin said in the press conference post the day.

Such is the cut-throat competition in this Indian side, though, that even someone like a Sundar, despite playing a series-defining knock, could see himself sit out the next few games - if not series - once Ravindra Jadeja comes back. Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj are also two other star players who could see themselves be dropped despite playing key roles and Ashwin, himself, despite winning the Man of the Series award versus England, is not guaranteed to be a sure-shot starter for the WTC Final against New Zealand. 

The competition for spots is currently the strongest it has ever been, and Ashwin conceded that India currently might be in an 2000s Australia-esque situation, where World Class players might find themselves warming the bench owing to the abundance of talent in the country.

“The dressing room atmosphere is open for excellence; for people to improve and get the best out of them. I can vouch for myself and I always want to put my best foot forward. Things can happen when there are so many talented players in the dressing room. In Australia Brad Hodge made a double hundred but didn’t play a lot. Probably Indian cricket finds itself in that place where you have a lot of good cricketers coming through.”

Ashwin, in three months’ time, will have the opportunity to do a World Cup + WTC double, but for many other cricketers in the Indian side, the WTC Final versus New Zealand will be the biggest match of their career. Ashwin insisted that the WTC Final is as big a game as it comes and claimed that he is pleased that several of his teammates will get to feature in a game equivalent to a World Cup final.