India’s bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar on Sunday tweeted to thank his fans for all the love he had received after scoring his maiden half century in Test cricket on Day 3 at Gabba. Sundar scored 62 runs off 144 deliveries when India were struggling at 186/6, 66 overs into their first innings against Australia.
A day that could be full of chaos was saved by debutant Washington Sundar. However, the off-spinner did thank everyone who prayed for him and wished him with love.
The 21-year-old said, “Thank you so much for all the love, prayers and wishes. It was indeed a very special day that I will remember always! #TeamIndia ?? @BCCI “
The popular opinion calls Day 3 of a Test match to be the deciding day, with teams struggling hard to tilt scales in their favour. However, just when Justin Langer could’ve taken a sigh of relief with the Australian bowlers on top of the visiting lineup, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur (67 runs off 115 balls) played the innings of a lifetime. The duo shared a 123 run stand and boosted India’s total to 336, only 33 runs shy of Australia’s first innings total. The last time India’s numbers 7 and 8 scored 50+ in same innings in an away Test, neither of them a wicketkeeper, was at Manchester in 1982, when Sandeep Patil had scored 129* and Kapil Dev had scored 65.
Washington also became the second Indian player to score a half century on debut and take three-plus wickets in his debut bowling innings after Dattu Phadkar (51 & 3/14 vs Aus, SCG, 1947/48).
