A test century is special for any cricketer and it can mentally propel a cricketer to greater heights if he achieves this landmark during the early years of his test cricket sojourn. Washington Sundar has always been spoken about as the next big talent to emerge out of India, once seen as a white-ball specialist, his ascent and performances for the test team have been nothing short of phenomenal. Since his amazing debut against Australia in the final test match at Brisbane, the young left-hander has been making gradual strides in the whites and his knock in the final test match against England at Ahmedabad proved to be precious as he helped India garner a major lead and an eventual win by an Innings and 25 runs to take the series 3-1.
Unlucky to miss the test century
When the last wicket of Mohammad Siraj had fallen bowled of a slower delivery to Ben Stokes the cameras panned to Sundar who had a despondent look on his face, there was a short view of Ben Stokes who too was shocked that the youngster who had batted so well was left stranded on 96. The drama started in the last ball of the previous over which saw Axar Patel run without seeing the ball only to be sent back and dismissed for 43 courtesy a runout. This meant Ishant Sharma would take strike for the first ball of the next over from Stokes and the 32-year-old Indian pacer was out first ball LBW, this bought to the crease Mohammad Siraj who had two close shaves before getting bowled in the fourth ball of the over for a 3 ball duck to signal the end of the Indian innings.
Washington Sundar’s father reacts
Speaking to the media after his son’s crucial knock, Washington Sundar’s father was heard saying “I don’t understand why people are surprised at his batting. I have been hearing. He can face the new ball. But we are ready for whatever the Indian team asks him to do. “What I am really disappointed about are the tail-enders. They couldn’t stay on for even a brief while. Suppose India were playing, needing 10 runs to win, wouldn’t this have been a huge mistake. There are millions of youngsters watching, they shouldn’t learn what the tail-enders did. It is not about technique or skills. It was a matter of courage. England was tired, Stokes was bowling at 123-126. They were not bowling at lethal pace”
Star Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin too had words of praise for Sundar during the post-game interaction where he was heard saying “I am not surprised at his batting because he works really hard at his batting. In fact, we have discussions on how you should bowl more as well. He loves his batting”
Washington Sundar has come out and become a huge factor for India in the last few months since his debut at Brisbane and if the 21-year-old can keep his performances going as he did against England it will be sooner than later he will be holding the bat aloft for his first test century and making his country and especially his father proud.