From powerplay to patience: Washington Sundar’s Test reinvention

Dubai: From powerplay containment to final-day defiance, Washington Sundar’s journey across formats has come full circle.

The 25-year-old, once seen as a T20 specialist, showed he belongs in whites with a gritty hundred against England — his calm under pressure proving more potent than any spinning track.

For long, Washington was considered a white-ball specialist, a player earmarked for T20s and ODIs who was picked in Tests only when his senior Tamil Nadu teammate Ravichandran Ashwin was unavailable. But Ashwin’s retirement following the Australia tour late last year has left a sizeable void — one that Sundar seems more than ready to fill.

He first hinted at his red-ball potential at the Gabba in 2021, scoring a composed 62 in his debut innings to help breach Australia’s fortress in one of India’s greatest Test victories. But just as the door seemed to open, injuries forced him to the sidelines. A three-year wait followed before his red-ball comeback against New Zealand at home in 2024. That series became a turning point: Washington emerged as the joint highest wicket-taker, with 16 wickets in four innings, outbowling even senior spinners.

Now, on England’s soil, Washington has delivered the defining knock of his career. Promoted to No. 5 in Manchester due to an injury to Rishabh Pant, the left-hander soaked up pressure with remarkable poise to register his maiden Test century. His unbeaten 101, stitched in a 203-run stand with fellow all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, helped India save the fourth Test and keep the series alive heading into the finale at The Oval.

Without flinching in the face of short-pitched body blows and variable bounce, Washington displayed the grit and temperament of a seasoned middle-order batter. After having been stranded on 85 not out and 96 not out in previous encounters against England, this hundred was not just about personal redemption — it signalled his arrival as a long-format mainstay.

“It feels very special,” Washington told JioHotstar after the match. “Honestly, it’s difficult to put this feeling into words because a Test hundred is something truly unique. I got the opportunity to bat at No 5, and my only focus was to fight for an entire day. That was the only message from the coach as well. I’m just really glad we managed to draw this match.”

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has long been a believer of his capabilities. “I always loved Washington. When I saw him on day one, I said he’s the man,” Shastri said on The ICC Review. “He can be a genuine all-rounder for many, many years. He again is just 25 years of age. I think he should have played a lot more Test cricket.”

In the ongoing series, Washington has scored 205 runs at an average of 51.25 and taken seven wickets in five innings. Overall, in 12 Tests, he has amassed 673 runs at 44.86, with a century and four fifties. With the ball, he has 32 wickets at 27.87, including a five-wicket haul and a 10-for in a match.

His contributions away from home — be it at Brisbane, Melbourne, Lord’s, or Old Trafford — only strengthen his case as Ashwin’s natural successor. The control with the ball, maturity with the bat, and quiet resilience under pressure point to a player built for the demands of modern Test cricket.

As India head into the final Test of the series at The Oval with the scoreline reading 1-2, all eyes will once again be on Washington to deliver with both bat and ball. At just 25, he has time, skill and temperament on his side.

Washington now has to focus on fine-tuning his skills, which should happen with experience and confidence.