From rescuing India in Manchester to smashing a T20-style fifty at The Oval, Washington Sundar makes his mark as a true Test all-rounder. (Image Credits: Sportskeeda)
India may have found its next big all-rounder in Washington Sundar, whose stellar performances with both bat and ball lit up the recently concluded five-match Test series against England. After years of being seen as a quiet contributor, Sundar came into his own, saving matches, scoring fast runs, and picking up key wickets when needed.
In the final Test at The Oval, Sundar gave India the kind of late-innings flourish rarely seen in red-ball cricket. Walking in with the team looking to build a big lead, he launched into an aggressive assault, bringing up his half-century in just 39 balls. His 53-run knock came off 46 deliveries and included 4 fours and 4 sixes, giving the innings a final push and helping India post a strong 396 in their second innings. It was the kind of counterattack that swung momentum and showed just how dynamic Sundar can be.
Just a week earlier, at Manchester, Sundar played what could be the defining innings of his career. With India struggling and a defeat looming, he joined forces with Ravindra Jadeja to pull the team out of trouble. Calm under pressure, Sundar brought up his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 101 off 206 balls, laced with 9 boundaries and a six. That inning not only saved the match but also earned him respect as a dependable Test batter.
Also Read: Jadeja’s Bat Burns Bright in England: Breaks Sobers’ Record, Tops India’s Lower-Order Charts
Sundar wasn’t just handy with the bat. At Lord’s, he picked up four wickets, bowling with control and subtle variations. Across the four Tests he played, he claimed 7 wickets, giving India crucial breakthroughs at important stages.
In 8 innings during the series, Sundar scored 284 runs at an average of 47.33, including a century and a fifty. In his Test career so far (13 matches), he has scored 752 runs at 44.23, with 1 century and 5 fifties, and has taken 32 wickets.
With his recent form, Sundar has not just filled a gap, he’s posed a strong case to be India’s long-term all-round solution in Test cricket.
