Sundar was seen receiving treatment while batting and appeared to have a strap around his thigh. He was dismissed off the very next delivery and did not take the field to bowl, leaving India with just five bowling options during their four-wicket defeat in Cardiff.
Kaif criticised the decision to risk an injured player instead of giving a fit replacement an opportunity.
“He was already injured. If you remember, he played three balls while batting. He had come with his hamstring bandaged. He was already injured and he was pushed. The question is whether he could have been rested, or a fit player could have been played and given an opportunity instead,” Kaif said on Cricbuzz.
While defending a target of 234, India were forced to rely on Shivam Dube as their fifth bowler. With Joe Root holding one end firmly, captain Shubman Gill had limited options to rotate his bowlers.
Kaif felt Sundar’s absence was particularly significant given the conditions and the dimensions of the Cardiff ground, which he believed favoured the spinners.
“Shivam Dube does not play that much ODI cricket. He has not been in the ODI side for many years now. So, it was a big task for him to bowl 10 overs. If Sundar was there, he could have bowled around six overs, the captain plans like this. But his absence meant that Shivam Dube became the fifth bowler, and he is not a 10-over bowler,” Kaif explained.
“So, of course, Sundar’s absence played a part. The wicket was a bit slow, the cow corners were quite big on the ground, so the spinners had a role to play,” he added.
India were bowled out for 233 after being comfortably placed at 178/4 at one stage. England then chased down the target with four wickets in hand, with Joe Root remaining unbeaten on 99 off 133 balls to level the three-match series.
India and England will now meet in the series decider at Lord’s.
