Washington Sundar : India’s Underrated Gamechanger
Alright, let’s just say it—cricket in India is a circus of personalities. You’ve got the Virats and the Rohits throwing punches (okay, not literally… most of the time), soaking up attention with their swagger and big shots. Then, out of nowhere, here comes Washington Sundar. The dude barely raises his voice above a whisper, but man, when he gets going, people notice. He’s not gonna chest-thump or do backflips, but give him a ball or a bat in a tight spot, and suddenly everyone’s like, “Wait, where’d this guy come from?”
🌱 Washington Sundar: How It All Started
So, Sundar was born in Chennai in ’99. Fun fact—he’s named after the guy who helped his dad chase his own cricket dreams. That’s some wholesome stuff. Started off as a batter, switched to spin because, well, why not? Turns out, he was pretty darn good at both. He tore through junior cricket, landed on the India U-19 squad, and before anyone had time to blink, he’s bowling in the IPL for Rising Pune Supergiant’s at seventeen. Seventeen! At that age, I was still figuring out how to make Maggi without burning the kitchen down.
Most people figured he’d be cannon fodder for the big guns. Nope. The kid bowled with the kind of maturity you usually see in grumpy uncles at the park. Cool, calm, and impossible to rattle.
🧠 Washington Sundar: Brains & Game Sense
What really separates Sundar from the pack? It’s not just talent—he’s got that sixth sense for reading a match. He knows when to go on the attack, when to just hang back and frustrate the batters. And he’s not afraid to bowl in the Powerplay, which, let’s be honest, is cricket’s version of walking into a lion’s den wearing a meat suit.
And don’t even get me started on his batting. That 96 not out against England in Chennai? Pure gold. The guy was batting with the tail and still looked like he was ordering chai at a roadside stall—completely unbothered.
📊Washington Sundar: Career Snapshot
Here’s a quick look at his stats across formats:
| Format | Matches | Runs Scored | Batting Avg | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 4 | 265 | 66.25 | 6 | 3/89 | 3.00 |
| ODI | 18 | 233 | 29.12 | 16 | 3/30 | 5.00 |
| T20I | 37 | 107 | 10.70 | 32 | 3/22 | 7.07 |
| IPL | 58 | 378 | 15.75 | 36 | 3/16 | 7.22 |
His economy rate, especially in T20s, reflects his skill in containing batters, while his batting average in Tests suggests there’s far more to come from him with the bat.
🌍 Big Stage, Big Moments
The Border-Gavaskar series in 2020-21 was nuts. India’s team was basically held together with duct tape and hope. Sundar gets tossed in at the Gabba, no pressure, right? He picks up wickets, then goes out and smashes a crucial 62 with Shardul Thakur. That partnership basically broke the Aussies, and Sundar didn’t even break a sweat.
Then, against England in 2021, he almost gets a century and just shrugs it off. The IPL? RCB, SRH—doesn’t matter. He’s always there, keeping things tidy, bowling when everyone else is hiding behind the umpire.
🧭 What’s Next?
The guy’s only 25. Twenty-five! If he stays in one piece (fingers crossed), India might’ve just stumbled onto their next three-format superstar. He’s like a Swiss Army knife for any captain—need a Powerplay bowler? Done. Need a calm finisher with the bat? Sure. Solid fielder? Yep.
If he gets just a bit more swagger with the bat, who knows? We might be talking about Sundar in the same breath as Jadeja or Moeen Ali soon. Maybe even higher, if things break his way.
📝 Wrapping It Up
Honestly, you won’t see Sundar trending on Twitter for wild celebrations or viral interviews. He’s more the slow-burn type. But when you’re tallying up the reasons India wins those gritty matches, his name always pops up. He’s the guy quietly stacking bricks while everyone else is busy showing off their paint job. So don’t be fooled by the calm—there’s a whole lot of class (and a bit of steel) under the surface. Washington Sundar, folks. Remember the name—because you can bet the cricket world already has.