Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar has been added to India‘s squad for the second and third Tests against New Zealand. He has been in exceptional form, scoring 152 while batting at number three and taking two wickets against Delhi in the current Ranji Trophy match.
Meanwhile, the first Test between India and New Zealand wrapped up on Sunday (October 20) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, marking a historic eight-wicket loss for the home team. India’s batting faltered, managing only 46 runs in the first innings, and the bowling was unable to perform effectively despite favorable conditions.
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Sundar’s inclusion doesn’t guarantee a spot in the playing XI, although captain Rohit Sharma appeared to have limited faith in Ravichandran Ashwin during the second innings in Bengaluru. However, it suggests that the selectors are considering him for the upcoming tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November.
He was not selected for the India ‘A’ squad for a two-match tour in Australia that will precede the Test series. With his recent Test call-up, it appears the selectors may view him as a more viable option for the playing XI compared to the India ‘A’ players.
The second Test begins on Thursday, October 24, in Pune, followed by the third Test in Mumbai starting November 1.
“Opening the batting is a lot of enjoyment”- Washington Sundar
Sundar stepped in for an injured Ashwin during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India won. He participated in one Test, the deciding match at the Gabba, where he scored important runs of 62 and 22 while batting at number seven and took four wickets.
Currently, he appears to be thriving while batting higher up the order, leveraging his technical skills.
“I have been feeling very confident about my skills and how I have been batting in the last few years especially,” Sundar was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo after his Ranji Trophy ton. “I have just been trying to focus on what the team demands me to do, no matter what the situation is. But batting at the top of the order is a lot of fun.”
“Test cricket is the ultimate format. Everybody values it a lot. For me, red-ball cricket means a lot. Hopefully, I can play a lot of games and keep performing really well,” he added.
The Test series between India and Australia is set to start in Perth on November 22.
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