I must admit, I was rather provoked into writing this piece for my weekly column after reading Ravi Shastri—former India captain, coach, and one of our better allrounders—name Washington Sundar as his top choice for India’s current allrounder slot. With all due respect to Shastri, I found the choice both surprising and somewhat underwhelming—especially when we have a proven match-winner like Ravindra Jadeja and an exciting emerging talent like Nitish Reddy waiting in the wings.
Now, let me be clear—I had high hopes for Washington, too. I remember his U-19 days vividly. He had a nice blend of sharp spin, calm temperament, and clean ball-striking. I genuinely believed he would blossom into a serious all-format allrounder. But somewhere along the way, that promise dimmed. Maybe it was injuries, a lack of consistency, but I just haven’t seen the hunger and intent that defines a genuine allrounder.
To me, the word “allrounder” carries weight. It’s not just about chipping in here and there. It’s about winning matches with both bat and ball. It’s about standing up when the team is down and delivering under pressure—consistently. On that scale, I still believe Kapil Dev Nikhanj remains India’s finest allrounder in living memory. Yes, there were others—Madan Lal, Roger Binny, Mohinder Amarnath, even Shastri himself—but Kapil stood tall, match after match, year after year.
That’s why I was never fully convinced by the comparison between Hardik Pandya and Kapil. It always felt forced. Pandya had the style, no doubt, but not the substance to match Kapil’s longevity and all-format brilliance. Injuries didn’t help either.
But if there’s one cricketer who has quietly built a solid, undeniable case for himself, it is Ravindra Jadeja. I’ve seen people take his contributions for granted, but no one can deny his all-around value. In Tests, ODIs, or T20s, Jadeja has played clutch innings with the bat, picked up wickets regularly, and saved dozens of runs in the field. He’s that rare player who can change a game in all three departments.
Few people realise that Jadeja has multiple triple centuries in domestic cricket for Saurashtra—batting in the top order. That’s no small feat. He isn’t just a tail-ender with a few big shots; he’s a proper batter. Add to that his consistent wicket-taking and electrifying fielding, and it baffles me how we even debate his place as India’s best allrounder today.
Contrast that with Washington Sundar, who still bats low in the order even for Tamil Nadu. If he’s truly to be seen as an allrounder, why not take more responsibility with the bat at the domestic level? Why not push up the order, much like Jadeja does? Unless that mindset shift happens, I’m afraid Sundar will remain a “bits and pieces” cricketer.
Now, let’s talk about the one name that excites me going forward—Nitish Kumar Reddy. This youngster from Andhra has real spark. He bowls at 130+ kmph, moves the ball, and looks technically sound with the bat. What I like most about him is his attitude—he wants to contribute, he wants to finish games, and he wants to be noticed. That’s the hunger I expected from Sundar but never quite saw.
If groomed well and given a clear role, I genuinely believe Nitish Reddy could be the next big thing in Indian cricket’s allrounder department. He’s young, versatile, and fearless—qualities that every great allrounder must have.
So yes, Ravi Shastri’s comments stirred something in me. While I respect his judgment, I personally feel Washington Sundar still has a lot to prove, both in terms of performance and mentality. Until then, Jadeja remains my pick as India’s genuine allrounder, with Nitish Reddy emerging fast as the most promising heir.
It’s not about talent alone—it’s about consistency, intent, and the ability to win matches across formats. That’s what sets the greats apart. And that’s the yardstick we must use—always.
