Spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar was among the three changes in India’s lineup for the second Test at Edgbaston after India failed to defend a target of 371 in the series opener at Headingley. Washington Sundar has remained a constant presence in the Indian XI since then, even as some, on social media or even on the official broadcasts, questioned the need for captain Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir to have two spin-bowling all-rounders in the XI, the other being Ravindra Jadeja.
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 after heroic four-fer makes England series a special one for Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar had made an instant impact following his inclusion in Birmingham – his 42 with the bat allowing India to inch closer to the 600-mark and his dismissal of England captain Ben Stokes at the stroke of lunch on the final day playing a small, but important, part in the series-leveling 336-run victory.
At Lord’s, Washington Sundar ran through the English batting order like a hot knife through butter, collecting 4/22 as England were bundled out for 192 – the first sub-200 score of what has been a high-scoring series so far. And at Manchester’s Old Trafford, Washington Sundar made perhaps his most telling contribution – certainly in the ongoing series, and among his finest performances in either capacity so far in his 12-Test career that began in the famous triumph at Gabba in January 2021.
Walking in to bat after Stokes had removed KL Rahul on Sunday morning to break the 188-run third-wicket stand, Washington Sundar had a huge responsibility on his shoulders – that of providing enough support to Gill, Jadeja and the rest of the batting order that followed, especially due to uncertainty over Rishabh Pant’s ability to make a match-winning/saving contribution with the bat after his foot fracture.
And the pressure was higher than ever after Gill fell to Jofra Archer’s bowling shortly before lunch on the final day, departing shortly after completing his fourth century of the ongoing series and going past 700 runs. Washington Sundar and Jadeja, however, would end up producing one of India’s finest rearguard efforts ever as they batted their way through the next two sessions, grinding England’s hopes of returning to London with the series already in the bag to dust.
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.
By the time the game had come down to the final hour of the final day, captain Stokes and his teammates had had enough, and the two spin-bowling all-rounders were still going strong. Stokes had even walked up to Jadeja offering a draw, and got all riled up when the Indians refused, given they were a couple of hits away from their centuries. It was only after they reached three figures that the match finally came to a close.
Sanjay Manjrekar credits Washington Sundar’s heroic hundred to Gautam Gambhir
When Shubman Gill (103) and Ravindra Jadeja’s (107*) added to their tally of Test tons on Sunday in Manchester, for Washington Sundar, it was a special occasion as he notched up his maiden Test century . The all-rounder had claimed 4-22 in the second innings at Lord’s and also picked up two wickets in the first innings in Manchester. Crediting Coach Gautam Gambhir to Washington Sundar’s success , Sanjay Manjrekar said :
“You’ve got to give credit to Gautam Gambhir. He was the one who backed him in Australia. He may also have been instrumental in making him the No. 1 spinner in the home series that we played against New Zealand.
“This is a guy who can bowl 35-40 overs. With his batting ability, he has shown spark over the last three years in overseas conditions. He also has shown that he can bat this long with their backs against the wall,” he added.
Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 101 off 206 balls in the second innings in Manchester. He added 203* for the fourth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja to ensure a draw for Team India in the Fourth Test.
Ravindra Jadeja has been there and done that when it comes to delivering with bat as well as with ball, and he has been delivering and winning matches for the country for a decade and a half. And then there’s Washington Sundar, the off-spinner yet to establish himself as a permanent fixture in the XI four years into his Test career, primarily due to Jadeja and R Ashwin ruling Indian cricket as the primary spin pair with Kuldeep and Axar Patel in the reserves.
His 11-fer against New Zealand in October brought Washington Sundar back into the limelight, and there was hope of him establishing himself in the lineup following Ashwin’s abrupt retirement in December during the tour of Australia.
His efforts in the last two Tests, especially his maiden international century at the same venue where one Sachin Tendulkar had achieved the same feat 35 years ago, should mark the beginning of an extended run in the team, taking conditions and team requirements into account, that is.
More importantly, his efforts at Lord’s and Old Trafford highlight that it’s not just Axar who’s seen as the next long-term spin-bowling all-rounder after Ashwin and Jadeja – the latter already 36 years of age and in the twilight of his career. Washington Sundar and Axar are even somewhat identical to the Ash-Jaddu pair in terms of their roles and impact, with the sole exception of the former being a left-handed batter, unlike Ashwin.
Axar, however, might have to wait a while longer before he finally gets an extended run. 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.
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