From net bowler to first innings hero, the rise of Washington Sundar

All-rounder Washington Sundar made history on Sunday when he scored a half-century on his Test debut against Australia on day three of the series-deciding fourth Test at Gabba. Joining hands with Shardul Thakur, Sundar built up a 123-run stand for the seventh wicket and frustrated the Aussie pacers. But who is Sundar and what else should we know about the player from Tamil Nadu apart from the fact that he plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL?

Similar to his Tamil Nadu senior Ravichandran Ashwin, Sundar transitioned from being a batsman as a youngster to making his name as an offspinner, according to ESPN Cricinfo. 

Also read: Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur score maiden Test fifties

On Sunday, while all the top-order, middle-order batsmen struggled against Australia’s pace attack, Sundar played effortlessly, frustrating the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. 

Surprisingly, one of the two heroes of India’s struggling first innings was initially kept back purely as a net bowler, as per Criccbuzz.  So when he called home to inform about his Test debut, his family was overjoyed. 

Also read: Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur partnership breaks record, garners praise from players, fans

Talking about his family, cricket runs in his veins, as he comes from a family that eats, sleeps and breathes cricket. His sister Shailaja Sundar is a national-level cricketer and has represented the under-19 South Zone team. Recently, she appeared as a cricket expert on TV during the 2019 World Cup as well as last year’s IPL. 

According to Shailaja, the passion for the game started early in their life as they battled against each-other as kids in their father’s cricket academy. She told Criccbuzz, “Dad runs an academy. We used to play practice matches during summer, invariably against each other. That season, he used to get out only off my bowling. He would be batting beautifully and then I would come on and get him out. We were very competitive.”

Shailaja added, “We would go school, come back, study and then back to cricket. Washi was so keen on playing that he would finish off his homework in school itself to give him more time with cricket upon returning home. He was such a teacher’s pet as a result.”

Now that Sundar has shown his talent, and proved that he more than just a replacement off-spinner, it is time for the selectors to take some tough decisions ahead of the England series.