"You don't want Shivam Dube to bat at No. 8" - Aakash Chopra questions Gautam Gambhir's strange tactics in 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Gautam Gambhir's strange tactics of sending Washington Sundar at No. 4 ahead of the other left-handers like Shivam Dube and Axar Patel in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and India.

Washington Sundar arrived at the crease at the fall of the second wicket. Shreyas Iyer was slotted to come in at No. 4 but instead, the team management decided to send a left-hander to make sure a left-right combination is maintained.

Despite having other proven left-handed batters like Shivam Dube and Axar Patel in the Playing XI, the team management decided to send Washington Sundar up the order which proved to be a big surprise.

Also read: Ex-Pakistan star rips into Gautam Gambhir for promoting Washington Sundar to No.4 in IND vs SL 1st ODI

Aakash Chopra questions Gautam Gambhir's strange tactics to send Washington Sundar above Shivam Dube and Axar Patel

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra argued that if India wanted a left-hander at the fall of Rohit Sharma's wicket, they had the options of Shivam Dube and Axar Patel who are proven performers at the international level. But India opted for Washington Sundar at such an important batting spot.

"Washington Sundar was sent up the order. I was wondering why he has come up the order. If you want a left-hander, you have Shivam Dube but you didn't send him up. You sent him (Sundar). Later when he gets out, Shreyas Iyer comes and KL Rahul and Axar Patel come afterwards. Then you wonder why Shivam Dube wasn't sent up the order. These are some questions," Chopra said in his video.

Chopra further argued that Shivam Dube was sent below the allrounder Axar Patel at No. 8, which was not ideal.

"Gautam Gambhir is giving you something to think about because something is different. You don't want Shivam Dube to bat at No. 8. You want him to bat up the order. But you are sending him below Axar, you are sending Washy (Washington Sundar) up the order," he added.

The experiment with Washington Sundar does not come off

The move to send Washington Sundar up the order did not work as he was dismissed for just 5 runs by spinner Akila Dananjaya. Shreyas Iyer came at No. 5 and tried to steady India's ship with a partnership with Virat Kohli. But both Kohli and Iyer were dismissed in quick succession.

Axar Patel came to bat at No. 7 and stitched a useful sixth-wicket partnership with KL Rahul. Both took their time and scored runs steadily. But India lost both of them in quick succession to slide further.

Shivam Dube, who came at No. 8, batted well for his 25 off 24 balls. But he fell off the penultimate delivery of the day with India needing 1 run to win the game. Dube smashed 2 sixes during his knock.

With 1 required to win and a wicket in hand, Arshdeep Singh tried to slog a straight deliver on the stumps and was hit right in front. The umpire gave it out straight away as the match ended in a dramatic tie. Sri Lanka's captain Charith Asalanka picked up the last two wickets of Dube and Arshdeep to bring smiles to the Sri Lankan camp.