India, Nov. 24 -- In six Tests now under Gautam Gambhir as head coach, Washington Sundar (48) has batted at five different positions-3, 5, 7, 8 and 9-and averaged 54. This phase has seen him score a second innings hundred at the drawn Manchester Test when India were 222/4 facing a first innings deficit of 311, a 46-ball 53 in the Oval Test that India won by six runs, bat out 92 balls in the second innings on a tricky pitch at Eden Gardens, and miss out on a fifty by just two runs here. Washington can bat, but do India know where they want him to bat?

It's a question worth mulling now that it's becoming increasingly clear that India have a grave batting problem to deal with, especially at home. The coaching staff might frown at the sugges...