In the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, India endured a challenging defeat. They were bowled out for a meager 46 runs in the first innings but staged a strong recovery in the second innings. Despite their resilience, they couldn’t set a substantial target, and New Zealand claimed victory by 8 wickets. As the focus shifts to the second Test in Pune, the BCCI has bolstered the squad by including Washington Sundar.
However, the BCCI has not clarified the reason behind Washington Sundar’s inclusion in the squad, as no player has been released. According to reports, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder has been called up to the Test side after three years, following requests from Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir.
This raises the question: why was Sundar brought in when Axar Patel, who has a similar skill set, remains on the bench? It’s possible that Rohit and Gambhir are considering Sundar for the Pune Test due to his excellent recent form.
Meanwhile, concerns loom over KL Rahul’s form and Rishabh Pant’s fitness. The management may be looking at Sundar for a different role, potentially slotting him into the middle order. His presence would also strengthen the bowling attack.
Washington Sundar made his Test debut in 2021 during the tour of Australia and played his last Test later that year against England. In his brief 4-match career, Sundar has scored 265 runs, including three half-centuries. He has also been effective with the ball, taking 6 wickets in those games. Sundar played a pivotal role in India’s historic win against Australia at the Gabba.
Washington Sundar was participating in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu before being called up to the Indian team. He played just one match against Delhi, where he scored an impressive 152 runs while batting at No. 3 and took 6 wickets in the match, earning the Player of the Match award. This standout performance may have influenced Gambhir and Rohit Sharma’s decision, securing Sundar a place in the Indian squad.