Every Test team wants a player who can bat well in the top six and also bowl long, useful spells with good control, spin, and drift. Washington Sundar is exactly that kind of player — a proper all-rounder who can add great balance to any side. But despite having all the right skills, his Test career hasn’t taken off the way it should have. In his early years, India already had two experienced players filling the same role, which limited his chances. And even when he was picked in the team, he didn’t always get the right opportunities to show what he could do — either with the bat or the ball.
Washington is a rare talent, and his journey so far is a reminder of how important it is to back players who bring so much to the table.
A Comeback Worth Remembering
I may not have been the biggest supporter of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s Test head coach, but one decision that truly brought a smile to my face was the recall of Washington Sundar for the Pune Test against New Zealand in October last year. It was a bold and refreshing move, especially considering both R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were already part of the playing XI. Picking Washi alongside them wasn’t just brave — it was the right call.
And Washington Sundar didn’t disappoint. He delivered his best-ever Test performance, finishing with match figures of 11 for 115 — a stunning 7 for 59 in the first innings and 4 for 56 in the second. One moment that still stands out was the dismissal of an in-form Rachin Ravindra. The ball angled in, pitched around middle, and spun just enough to clip the top of off-stump — a dream delivery for any off- spinner. It was a statement ball, a reminder of the class Washington brings, and a perfect way to announce his return to red-ball cricket.
A Dream Debut at the Fortress: The Gabba Hero
Washington Sundar has always shown up for India in critical moments, despite having played only a handful of Tests. His debut couldn’t have come on a bigger stage — the historic Gabba Test against Australia in January 2021. With most of India’s regular Test players either injured or unavailable due to personal reasons, Washington was thrown into the deep end, making his first appearance in the final match of a fiercely contested series.
He began with the ball, and I still remember a moment that feels surreal even today. As India started their bowling innings, I posted on X that Washi would dismiss Steve Smith. A few hours later, he claimed his maiden Test wicket — none other than Smith himself, caught at short mid-wicket. It felt like a prophecy fulfilled.
But his impact didn’t end there. With India trailing and in deep trouble, Washington stepped up with the bat, scoring a vital 62 in the first innings. His composure, confidence, and strokeplay stood out, especially for someone making his debut. He followed that with a quickfire 22 in the second innings during India’s historic chase, which included the now-iconic Natraj hook shot against Pat Cummins — a moment etched in the hearts of Indian fans.
So special was the occasion that Washington went on to name his pet “Gabba” — a tribute to the ground where he made his unforgettable Test debut and helped script one of India’s greatest overseas wins.
Missed Centuries, Silent Exit & the Road to Redemption
With Ravindra Jadeja unavailable for the home Test series against England, Washington Sundar got a much-deserved opportunity — and he made it count with the bat. On rank turners, he played two remarkable innings: an unbeaten 85 in Chennai and a solid 96* in Ahmedabad. Both knocks came in tough situations where India were under pressure, but unfortunately, on both occasions, Washi ran out of partners and was left stranded, narrowly missing out on what could have been his maiden Test hundred.
However, while he impressed with the bat, his bowling didn’t create the same impact. With Ashwin and Axar Patel dismantling the English batting line-up match after match, Washington’s off-spin didn’t find a major role. And once Jadeja returned, Washi was pushed back to the bench. What followed was a frustrating phase marked by injuries and rehabilitation, keeping him out of action for most of 2022 to 2024.
But the tide finally turned in early 2024 when he was recalled for the home series against New Zealand. In a series that saw India suffer a surprising whitewash, Washington emerged as one of the rare positives. He took 16 wickets across two Tests, including his career-best figures in Pune. While runs were hard to come by, he showed remarkable composure and technique on spinning pitches, offering a glimpse of his potential to bat higher up the order. It was a quiet but strong reminder of his value — a red-ball all-rounder who still had plenty to offer.
The England Tour: A Statement of Skill and Grit
The England tour marked a new chapter in Indian Test cricket. With several stalwarts missing from the squad, a young, relatively inexperienced Indian side faced off against a fearless and aggressive English batting line-up — one that thrives on taking bowlers apart in the longest format. But Washington
Sundar wasn’t fazed. He walked into the series with quiet confidence, armed with his well-rounded
skillset and composure, and soon became a standout performer on both fronts. With the ball, no spinner matched the kind of drift Washington generated. It was subtle, deceptive, and consistent — a rare sight in English conditions. And with the bat, he proved to be one of the most difficult wickets for the English bowlers.
The frustration on Ben Stokes’ face on the final evening of the Manchester Test was a telling image — Washi had anchored the innings, absorbing pressure and keeping India alive. Four years ago, he narrowly missed a Test hundred against England on home soil. But fate had a grander plan.
At Old Trafford, in a gritty match-saving effort, Washington finally reached his maiden Test century — a hundred that didn’t just bring up a personal milestone but also reignited the glory of a historic venue. His knock lit up Old Trafford, showcasing not just his technique but also his temperament under pressure.
With the ball, he delivered spells that will be remembered long after the series ends — the beautiful drift that trapped Stokes at Birmingham, the clever flight that beat Joe Root’s sweep, the delivery that uprooted Jamie Smith’s off-stump, and the one that left an attacking Harry Brook stranded in no man’s land at Manchester. Washington Sundar showed he has every tool needed to succeed, even in conditions that offer little to spinners. It was a series that didn’t just prove his credentials — it stamped his name firmly in India’s red-ball plans.
Every time Washington Sundar gets a chance, he makes it count — with grace, grit, and quiet brilliance. He’s not loud, he’s not flashy, but he does the job like few can. A top-six batter, a thinking spinner, and a calm head in chaos — Washi is the Test all-rounder India has been searching for. All he needs now istrust, not trials.
Because talent like his isn’t meant to wait on the sidelines.
