India’s all-rounder Washington Sundar expressed heartfelt gratitude toward Team India’s operations manager Rahil Khaja after being awarded the Impact Player medal following the fifth T20I against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Sundar praised Khaja for his constant dedication and behind-the-scenes efforts that make players’ tasks easier. The 26-year-old expressed immense joy over contributing to India’s series victory and acknowledged the efforts of the support staff who work tirelessly for the team’s success.
Sundar was one of the standout performers in the T20I series, playing a crucial role in India’s victories in the third and fourth matches. His all-round brilliance shone through in the third T20I, where he smashed an unbeaten 49 runs off just 23 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes to guide India to a successful chase of 187. In the fourth T20I, he made a strong impact with the ball, taking three wickets for only three runs in just 1.2 overs, helping India clinch a dominant 48-run win. These performances established him as one of the key contributors in the series.
Sundar Reflects On Receiving The Medal
Speaking after receiving the medal on November 8, Washington Sundar said, “It’s such a great feeling to get this medal from him. We know the kind of work he puts in every single day to make a lot of our jobs very easy. And yes coming over here and getting an opportunity to play in Australia is amazing and to have contributed that drove it to the team’s victory makes me definitely happy. Thanks all.”
His words highlighted the unity and mutual respect within the team setup. Sundar’s humility and appreciation for the team’s support staff reflected the collaborative spirit that has driven India’s recent successes. The final T20I in Brisbane was unfortunately washed out after only 4.5 overs of play, with India standing at 52/0. Despite the rain, India secured the five-match series 2-1, marking another strong performance on Australian soil.
India’s Next Challenge Against South Africa
After their successful campaign in Australia, Team India will now prepare to face South Africa in a three-match T20I series starting December 9 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. With the T20 World Cup approaching next year, the Men in Blue will aim to maintain their winning form and strengthen their squad combinations. The team will also play a series against New Zealand before the mega event. As the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, India will look to continue their dominance in the shortest format.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
