Washington Sundar Will Play The All-Rounder's Role For India In All Three Formats - VVS Laxman

Former India batsman, VVS Laxman feels that Washinton Sundar will have an important role to play in the Indian team across formats as an all-rounder. Laxman’s comments come after Sundar’s impressive start to his Test career.

Washington Sundar, already a regular feature in India’s T20 side, made his Test debut in Australia and was a crucial contributor in the series-winning Test match in Brisbane both with bat and ball in hand.

In the recently concluded home Test series against England, Sundar was once again influential with the bat, despite not getting many opportunities with the ball in presence of R Ashwin and Axar Patel. Unfortunately, the left-hander missed his maiden Test century twice and was stranded on 85* and 96*.

VVS Laxman opines that while the 21-year-old will be disappointed in missing out on the three-figure mark, however, with age on his side, he will get more chances as he has the skills and the talent to cash in on the opportunities in the future.

“The situation in which he had come to bat, six wickets had fallen and after that the partnership with Rishabh Pant and then with Axar Patel, he will definitely be disappointed. We all are disappointed because it hurts when a player does not get what he deserves. But he will get opportunities, it is a young career and he is a young player and he will definitely play the all-rounder’s role for India in all three formats,” VVS Laxman said while speaking on Star Sports.

“It was an amazing knock, he is an all-round player. He can play the cuts off the back-foot, the drives, play on the up and can even go down the pitch to play the aerial shots. It was a complete knock. We discussed a lot about Rishabh Pant but you cannot forget his contribution,” he added.

Sundar has the temperament of a top-order batsman: VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman lavishes high praises on the Tamil Nadu batsman asserting that Sundar has a calm head on his shoulders and has been brilliant in dealing with short balls. The 46-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator reckons Sundar is a complete batsman adept in playing both pace and spin.

“He used to play as an opener at the age-group level and he had a century in first-class cricket before this match. I feel he has the temperament of a top-order batsman. You can have the shots but your mindset decides if you can perform against a good bowler.

The technique and footwork he showed against the bouncers clearly shows that he can become a complete player. His strength is the off-side but he can play the pull shot also very well. The way he uses his wrists against the spinners and his feet to play the shots down the ground, I feel he is a complete batsman,” VVS Laxman further added.

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