India vs England: Washington Sundar's All-Round Excellence Secures Test Draw, Cementing His Place in the Squad

Washington Sundar: A Perfect Fit for India's Test Ambitions

Washington Sundar celebrates his century during day five of the 4th Test vs England at Old Trafford (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Manchester: Just days before his unexpected selection for India's home Test series against New Zealand last October, Washington Sundar showcased his batting prowess with a score of 152 for Tamil Nadu against Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match, batting at No. 3. "I consider myself to be a top-order batter," Washington declared after the day's play. "I'm happy with the opportunity I got batting at No. 3. I'll be batting regularly up the order in the future. Hopefully, I can deliver such knocks consistently."

Amidst a challenging Test series against New Zealand, the team management selected Washington for his off-spin bowling. He soon emerged as the lead spinner, ahead of experienced campaigners like R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, when India played in Perth a month later.

In England, Washington's inclusion in the playing XI for the second Test was primarily based on his ability to bolster the batting lineup lower down the order. Despite calls for a specialist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav, the team management continued to support Washington as the second spinner.

On Sunday, he justified their faith with a resilient performance with the bat at No. 5, ensuring India salvaged a draw in the fourth Test and avoided losing the series. Washington Sundar etched his name in history as the second Indian to score his maiden Test century in Manchester, following in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar in 1990.

Washington's composure at the crease, facing a formidable English attack on a pitch with unpredictable bounce, speaks volumes about his temperament. While he has shown glimpses of his potential in the past, including a half-century on debut at the Gabba in 2021 and an unbeaten 96 against England, Sunday's innings presented a unique challenge.

He was tasked with filling the void left by the injured Rishabh Pant in the middle order. Washington Sundar had to prove his mettle as a capable batsman, after already demonstrating his bowling skills by keeping Kuldeep Yadav on the sidelines.

“Washington was in really good form. It’s just that sometimes, when you’re playing seven or eight batters, sometimes it’s difficult to accommodate someone. With Rishabh not being there, it was our opportunity to put Washy at five,” Gambhir said on Sunday. “We always knew what kind of form he was in, after the way he was batting in the nets and even in the last couple of Tests,” Gambhir added.

When questioned about the team management's description of him as a player who can contribute as a second spinner and add valuable runs at No. 8, after claiming four wickets in the second innings of the Lord's Test, Washington responded, "This is a team sport. I want to contribute to the team differently in different passages of a match. I've been given different roles. That's what makes Test cricket exciting."

Washington Sundar has quietly become a vital asset to Indian cricket. His contributions to memorable Test victories have made it increasingly difficult for India to leave him out of the playing XI.