India’s decision to send Harshit Rana to the crease to face Kyle Jamieson’s hat-trick ball, instead of all-rounder Washington Sundar, raised eyebrows during the tense chase in the first ODI against New Zealand. However, the move was driven more by fitness concerns than tactical experimentation.
The situation unfolded after Jamieson produced a fiery spell, dismissing Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession and reducing India from 234/2 to 242/5. With Jamieson on a hat-trick and the pressure mounting, India chose not to risk Sundar, who was carrying an injury concern.
Was Washington Sundar injured?
Yes, Washington Sundar was dealing with a fitness issue at the time. Initial reports suggested that Sundar had suffered a side strain, an injury that can be serious for an all-rounder and, in severe cases, rule a player out for three to four months. This immediately raised doubts over whether he should be exposed to a high-risk situation against a bowler on a hat-trick.
Later, during the live broadcast, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle provided a crucial update. He informed viewers that Sundar had actually sprained his back while bowling, and that the Indian medical team was closely monitoring his condition. Bhogle added that it was uncertain whether Sundar would even come out to bat in the remainder of the innings.
Why Harshit Rana was sent instead
Given the uncertainty around Sundar’s fitness, India opted to shield him from immediate danger. Sending Harshit Rana served two purposes. First, it avoided aggravating Sundar’s injury at a critical moment of the match. Second, it allowed India to keep Sundar in reserve in case his batting was required later, especially if the chase went deep.
While Rana is primarily a bowler and not known for his batting, the decision reflected a risk-management call rather than a reflection of batting confidence. With KL Rahul still at the crease, India appeared willing to sacrifice a wicket rather than risk losing Sundar to a long-term injury.
A call driven by caution
In high-pressure moments, such decisions often look unusual on the surface. In this case, India’s choice to send Harshit Rana instead of Washington Sundar was rooted in medical caution, not tactical bravado. With Sundar’s back injury under assessment and his availability uncertain, the team management prioritised player health over short-term match-ups, even as Jamieson threatened to turn the game on its head.