Washington Sundar Reflects On First Test Hundred – Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Rishabh Pant for his gutsy half-century, calling it a true display of courage and team spirit. Despite battling a foot injury, Pant pushed through the pain to score a crucial fifty, helping India post a solid first innings total of 358 against England.
Gambhir said Pant has not only inspired the next generation but also built a lasting legacy with his resilience and selflessness. Unfortunately, the injury has forced Pant to step away from the rest of the Test series. Tamil Nadu’s Narayan Jagadeesan has been named as his replacement.
Though Pant didn’t want to leave the field, he gave the team a big lift with his final contribution, a brave and important knock that will be remembered.
Ahead of the final Test between England and India at The Oval, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar put in a strong shift, wearing down the English side and shaking up their confidence. With India heading into the match carrying a psychological edge, a heavy workload now awaits the hosts.
Washington Sundar Reflects on Emotional Maiden Test Century Against England
Washington Sundar shared his feelings while speaking to JioHotstar, saying,
“It feels very special. Honestly, it’s difficult to put this feeling into words because a Test hundred is something truly unique. Every century matters, but this one holds special significance. I got the opportunity to bat at number five, and my only focus was to fight for an entire day. That was the only message from the coach as well. I am just really glad we managed to draw this match.”
Talking about the team’s mindset in the second innings, Washington Sundar said they focused on playing each ball on its merit, especially since the pitch had something in it for both seamers and spinners.
“Our focus was to stay disciplined and give everything we could. To experience the moments we did today, especially after managing to draw the game, feels amazing. I think the whole team played really well throughout the Test match, and now it is going to be even more exciting heading into the next one,” he concluded.
In the three Tests played so far in this series, Washington Sundar has impressed with both bat and ball. He’s scored 205 runs in six innings at an average of 51.25, including a brilliant century. With the ball, he’s picked up seven wickets in five innings, averaging 35.85, with standout figures of 4 for 22 at Lord’s.
Sundar has been a real asset for Team India with the bat, scoring 673 runs in 12 Tests and 22 innings at an impressive average of 44.86. His record includes one century and four half-centuries. He’s also done well with the ball, taking 32 wickets at an average of 27.87, including best figures of 7 for 59, and has already notched up both a five-wicket haul and a ten-wicket match.
At just 25, Sundar is showing signs of becoming a major player for India in the years to come. With the right guidance and hard work, he could well be the ideal successor to Ravichandran Ashwin and develop into one of the top all-rounders in the world.
What’s more impressive is that he’s already played seven of his 12 Tests away from home and made a big impact in tough conditions. From the memorable partnership with Shardul Thakur at Brisbane in 2021, to a 100+ stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy in Melbourne earlier this year, a four-wicket haul at Lord’s, and a key performance at Old Trafford – Washington Sundar has shown he’s ready for the big stage.
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