Washington Sundar, after scoring a century for Tamil Nadu in their ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, is set to join India’s squad for the second and third Tests against New Zealand. His impressive form in domestic cricket has earned him a spot in the national team, adding depth to the lineup for the upcoming matches. Sundar’s all-round abilities, combined with his recent performance, make him a valuable addition to India’s squad as they face New Zealand in the remaining Tests.
Washington Sundar Added to Test Squad:
New Zealand secured an eight-wicket victory in the first Test in Bengaluru, marking their first Test win in India since 1988. The second Test is set to begin in Pune on October 24, followed by the final Test in Mumbai on November 1. In preparation for the second match, the BCCI selectors have added Washington Sundar as the 16th member of India’s Test squad, with no additional changes to the lineup.
Washington Sundar has been a regular in India’s white-ball squads recently but hasn’t featured in Test cricket since March 2021. Earlier this year, he was included in the Test squad as a replacement for the injured Ravindra Jadeja during the home series against England. Sundar is considered a promising long-term option for India as a spin-bowling allrounder, showcasing his versatility and value in different formats of the game.
Washington Sundar has appeared in four Test matches, all during the 2020-21 season when Ravindra Jadeja was sidelined due to injury. In these games, he accumulated 265 runs at an impressive average of 66.25, including three half-centuries, and took six wickets with his off-spin at 49.83. On his debut, he played a pivotal role in India’s iconic victory at the Gabba, contributing with three key wickets and important lower-order scores of 62 and 22.
Washington Sundar’s Performance in Ranji Trophy:
In the Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, Washington Sundar batted at No. 3 and scored 152, marking his second first-class century in Tamil Nadu’s first innings. He mentioned that the team management decided to promote him up the order, and he views himself as a natural top-order batter, confident in his abilities at the crease.
India’s plans for Washington Sundar in the upcoming Tests against New Zealand remain uncertain. In the Bengaluru Test, they fielded three frontline spinners—Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Kuldeep Yadav—with Axar Patel as backup. Notably, Jadeja, Ashwin, and Axar all bring all-rounder capabilities, making Washington’s potential role in the lineup an intriguing prospect for the team.
Shami’s Back in Action: Bowling Full Speed in Bengaluru, Injury Can’t Hold Him Down!
Washington Sundar may have been chosen primarily as a top-order cover rather than for his bowling. Ahead of the second Test, India faces fitness concerns over key players. First-choice No. 3 Shubman Gill missed the Bengaluru Test due to a stiff neck, while Rishabh Pant, who scored 99 in the second innings, didn’t keep wickets for much of the match after sustaining an injury to his right knee.
After undergoing surgeries on both knees following a severe car accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant was kept away from wicketkeeping during the match. Rohit Sharma explained that this precaution was taken to ensure Pant’s well-being and protect his long-term importance to the team, emphasizing the need for caution given his recovery status.
India squad for the second and third Tests:
Rohit Sharma (capt), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and Instagram
