India, Jan. 14 -- India's search for a Washington Sundar "replacement" often turns into a debate about two completely different jobs. Sundar isn't picked because he's an extra batter who can bowl. He's picked because he is a left-hand bat who also gives you reliable offspin overs, control in the middle, and match-ups that let captains squeeze one more batter into the XI.

That's why the current notion of India giving Ayush Badoni a go makes sense. Badoni offers two things selectors like in modern white-ball cricket: a flexible middle-order bat and a bit of offbreak to plug an over when the pitch grips or a left-hander walks in. In pure "skill type", he feels closer to Sundar than most batting options because he can at least mirror the off...