Washington Sundar Reveals He Was Informed About His Test Debut A Day Before The Match

Off-spinner Washington Sundar opens up about the lead-up to his maiden Test match. Due to injuries to Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the third Test in Sydney, Washington Sundar was given a Test debut for India in the Brisbane Test against Australia.

With Kuldeep Yadav as the third spinner in the Test squad, Sundar, however, was initially asked to stay as a net bowler after playing the 3-match T20I series which India won. The 21-year-old reveals that it was just a day or two days ahead of the fourth Test he learned about his inclusion.

“I was there for a months after the ODI series, it gave me an amazing opportunity to bowl on Australian soil and to improve my skillsets as well. Definitely have to thank the management for that. I got to know a day or two before the Gabba Test [ that I was in the playing XI],” Washington Sundar told Sports Today.

Despite playing his maiden Test, the RCB spinner handled the pressure very well at the Gabba. Apart from snaring 4 wickets, he scored a crucial 62 and was involved in an inspiring partnership with Shardul Thakur which kept India in the game.

“Definitely, the pressure was there but more than the pressure the excitement was honestly more. To be able to play Test cricket for India is a special feeling. Nothing can beat that. So, yes I was very excited to go to the ground and be a part of the Gabba Test. It went really well and it was a dream come true,” Sundar added.

Felt really good getting Steve Smith as maiden Test wicket: Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar dismissed Steve Smith as his first Test scalp. He points out that he had bowled three maidens on a trot leading up to Smith’s wicket and it came as a partnership breaker between Smith, who not long ago was the number 1 ICC Test batsman, and Marnus Labuchagne, who was the leading run-scorer in the Test series.

“Before getting Smith’s wicket, 3 overs and all 3 were maidens. I feel was following the process, I just wanted to bowl tight because on Day 1, just wanted to keep things tight and bowl in the good areas, go with the plans.

“Which actually helped me get a wicket in that bargain and it felt really good getting that maiden wicket in Test cricket of Steve Smith. The way he was batting that day, on full song, and to have broken that particular partnership between him and Marnus, very glad about it,” Sundar further added.

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