Washington Sundar is a diligent learner. Not the one to express his emotions, Washington Sundar is always among the first to hit the nets. Once done with the session, Washington Sundar makes it a point to stand in one corner for a few moments and analyse his game.That has been the norm ever since he landed in England.
India’s fighting spirit was on full display in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, where Washington Sundar’s maiden Test century and a gritty lower-order stand helped secure a hard-fought draw against England.
A maiden Test century for Washington Sundar
He knew he would have to wait for his chances, and when it came ahead of the second Test in Birmingham, Washington Sundar did not disappoint. Coming in at No.8,Washington Sundar contributed with crucial 54 runs in the Test — 42 in the first innings, followed by 12 in the second — as India went on to clinch a historic win. There were questions over him being selected over Kuldeep Yadav, but the team management was clear about its plan — to play a spinner who can add depth to the batting. That role was perfect for Washington Sundar.
Despite claiming four wickets at Lord’s, a duck in the second innings meant questions resurfaced again. But then, with the backing of the team management, Washington came to Old Trafford with a belief. Of course, he did not imagine that he would go on to score his maiden Test century and help India save the Test, stitching a 200-plus partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.
At the same venue where India had lost their last six wickets for less than 100 on Day 2, Washington Sundar and Jadeja ended up forging an unbroken 203-run stand for the fifth wicket. England had begun the afternoon session smelling the possibility of the proverbial floodgates being opened after getting rid of both overnight batters. Former batter Ajinkya Rahane was in all praise of Washington Sundar after he led India to a heroic escape at Manchester with his maverick century.
Ajinkya Rahane in all praise of Washington Sundar for his heroic 101* vs England in the 4th Test
After a hard-fought battle, team India drew the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. The two sides locked horns at Old Trafford in Manchester. In the first innings, India posted a total of 358 runs, and England followed it up by amassing 669 runs. With England putting the visitors in a perplexing situation, the likes of KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar fought hard for India, with three out of the four batters completing their centuries.
Their knocks were crucial to team India drawing the fourth Test and speaking of their performance, veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane took centre stage and heaped massive praise on Washington Sundar for scoring 101* runs in 206 deliveries and helping India draw the game.
“Yes, there were some heated moments involved. England wanted to stop the game, but I thought that India did right. Rightfully, they played the game really well because when two batters are batting on 90 and Washington was 84 or 85. They deserved that 100.,” Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Getting your first hundred, especially for Washington Sundar in England, he will remember for his lifetime. Jadeja did that beautifully well, batted really well. He’s been batting really well. I’m really happy for him that he’s actually when team needed him the most, he’s actually delivering his performance,” Rahane added.
It is worth noting that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar faced 391 deliveries together, where they both scored centuries and helped team India draw the game against England. Speaking of their partnership, Rahane talked about how important it was for both of them to complete their centuries.
” Jadeja and Washington Sundar. I mentioned about Jadeja before the first Test match; his role will be really crucial for the team, and he did that really well. Showing again that hunger and character to bat time again, remember batting five sessions, day five, it’s not easy.”
“Wicket tends to get up and down, day four and day five, it becomes really difficult to bat, but what was important in the last innings was that discipline. Playing those 200 balls, Jadeja and Washington Sundar, and in the end getting that 100,” Rahane concluded.
Having been in and out of the squad since his debut in 2021, his batting position has been nothing less than musical chairs. Washington Sundar has batted 11 times at No.8, six times at No.7, thrice at No.9, and once each at No.6 and No.5. But the constant change hasn’t been a deterrent. On debut in Brisbane, he proved his mettle with that gritty 62 off 144 balls, laying the foundations of the team’s fearless win. The 96 not out in Ahmedabad too set the team towards an innings win.
But batting up the order came after four years. An injury to Rishabh Pant meant the No.5 slot opened up for the 25-year-old, and he made the most of the opportunity.With Pant ruled out for the final Test, former India cricketer and Tamil Nadu stalwart W.V. Raman suggested on X that Washington Sundar should be promoted up the order, and India head coach Gautam Gambhir, also admitted that he will only improve hereon.
Washington Sundar, meanwhile, will be hungrier than ever for runs and wickets following his recent success, and will be hoping for another match-winning effort in the series finale against Stokes and his men at The Oval starting Thursday.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball