Washington Sundar Leaves His Mark Yet Again

In the end, you wondered how Washington Sundar‘s father must be feeling. Would he be feeling distraught that his son got so close to fulfilling his dream of a Test century but couldn’t? Or overwhelmingly happy and proud that at such a young age he played another decisive hand?

You’d hope it was more of the latter as Sundar left his mark yet again, scoring impactful runs from another difficult situation to shape another series-deciding Test match.

Also Read: Washington Sundar: Shardul and my partnership was very very crucial for the team

That unbeaten 96, played from the middle of Day 2 till near the end of the early hours on Day 3, was an innings rich in quality, exhibiting as much Sundar’s range and resolve as his technique and temperament in the face of adversity.

Washington Sundar’s debut match at the Gabba was a memorable one

As he did at Gabba, Sundar showed once again that he isn’t fazed by the difficulty of the situation or the magnitude of the challenge posed to him. That his steady nature and calmness aren’t affected by the frenzy or the turmoil around him.

Also Read: IND v SA: Washington Sundar and a way to unfold his optimum potential

The turmoil there might not have been but there was certainly some frenzy when Rishabh Pant decided to take things in his hands and blazed away to a century in the fashion only he can during the final session on Day 2. But even then, Sundar never lost his composure or went about trying to match the amazing little maniac for shot to shot. He never lost sight of the bigger picture.

The ‘bigger picture’ required Sundar to pull off his best Test score not just to bail India out from the troubled waters and overhaul the English total, but then to take the game away from them. And that he ‘nearly’ did.

Sundar batted with great defence and defiance against Anderon and Stokes and once having negotiated them nicely, he unleashed his wrath on Leach and Bess, as well as Root, if not in Pant’s way, but in his own composed style chipping them away for runs through both sides of the wicket.

Washington Sundar is just a proper Test batsman. His false shot percentage since arriving in the side is 12.5%, comfortably below the Test average of 15%. He's done it while attacking 25% of the time – slightly above the average for all players. All very accomplished. #INDvENG

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 6, 2021

With spin getting the better of Sundar in the earlier part of the series, it was felt that despite his undoubted ability he is letting the bowler bowl to a stationary target instead of being proactive and not allowing them to settle down. This innings, thus, showed how quick a learner he is as Sundar tightened up his game outside off and had decisive footwork, playing forward to those full and going backwards when it was short.

India are blessed to have a No.8 like this who could play knocks even a specialist top 6 batter would keep close to his heart. There are already calls for Sundar’s promotion up the order as some of his more experienced teammates are struggling. And, also predictions of his bright future, more as a batsman who could ball than a bowler who could bat.

These are big compliments for someone so young and taking his first strides in the international arena. For someone other than Sundar you would’ve feared it could start to get to his head. But you feel watching him he isn’t one of those. He is your quiet, skilful and talented everyday boy who’ll make no fuss and put his head down for whatever role is assigned to him.

And you’d think, as his journey rolls on, Sundar’s father would have more reasons to smile and be happy than to feel distraught over.