Do you remember Salman Khan as ‘Aman’ in Karan Johar’s iconic film ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai?’ Salman was the quintessential charming lover boy. He makes a grand entry with song and dance and is all set to marry Anjali (Kajol). Anjali likes him too and things go according to plan until Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) makes a re entry in Anjali’s life. Anjali is confused and torn. Tears are shed and hearts are broken before the inevitable happens. Anjali goes back to her first love and all Aman can do is let go and offer a smile standing in the background.
Now, why did I tell you this story? Because Washington Sundar is the ‘Aman’ of the Indian Cricket Team. Imagine this, he last played in a test in 2021. He delivered with both bat and ball against Australia in the final test at Brisbane that saw India breach the fortress and clinch the historic Border Gavaskar Trophy series. Washington and Shardul Thakur formed a partnership for the ages.
However, ‘Aman’ was soon forgotten. With the test regulars Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin deservingly coming back in the first XI and Axar Patel rising fast through the ranks, Sundar had to step back. He was written off for the next three years. Washi wasn’t even a regular in the IPL set up. The teams picked him and soon realised ‘Aman’ was the easiest to bench. Injuries didn’t help Sundar either.
Three years passed and all of a sudden ‘Aman’ was invited to be Anjali’s suitor again. India slumped to a big loss against New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match Test series. Panic button was pressed, a turner was prepared in Pune, and Washington was not only called back but immediately inducted into the playing XI. ‘Aman’ did not disappoint, picking up 13 wickets in the match. Such was his impact that he bowled way more overs than Jadeja in both the innings. Not only with the ball, he looked equally good with the bat.
The team management backed him and subsequently he was promoted to No. 6 in the second innings ahead of Sarfraz Khan and Jadeja. The scoreboard might not show great returns but for us who watched the game, he looked in complete control on the turner till he was at the crease. He came good in the third Test at Mumbai too, where the team management decided to prepare another turner.
The fact he was more effective than India’s leading spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, saw him make a cut in the playing XI for the first Test against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy immediately after that series. Scores of 4 and 21 with the bat with only two wickets to show in the second innings didn’t help his cause. Ashwin returned for the day-night Test against Adelaide.
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Then came the shocking retirement announcement of Ashwin after the third Test at Brisbane. Poor performances by the Indian batting order saw Washington come back for the last two Tests. Captain Rohit Sharma came up with the ‘extra bowling cushion’ logic when asked about playing two all-rounders in Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar. However Washington wasn’t trusted with the ball at all in any of those Tests. He bowled a total of only 20 overs over the next two Tests. The Boxing Day Test saw Washington grind it out with the bat against a relentless Aussie bowling attack. Nitish and Washington, the two so-called ‘extra bowling cushion’, not only took India to a respectable total, but also formed a crucial partnership of 127 runs at no 8.
The team management rewarded ‘Aman’ and picked him for the 5-match T20I series against England. Here ‘Aman’ was back to his best when it came to receding in the background. Ineffective with both bat and ball, he was picked and dropped and dropped and picked. The team selections were sometimes too experimental, as a result of which Washington was unsure of his role. With the spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi doing the job for India, Washington was used in patches. The England batters took a liking to him, desperately trying to break the shackles. His bowling figures were dented and he was dismissed trying to swing his blade.
But India still needs ‘Aman’ for the climax scene. So, Washington was picked in the Champions Trophy squad. With Varun putting in exceptional performances, it’sonly fair that he gets a look in the playing XI in one of the matches against England.
So, what are the options you are looking at? Shami and Arshdeep are sure starters. That leaves you with two more bowling slots, preferably spinners, with Hardik Pandya performing the third seamer’s role. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has an obsession with all-rounders and it’s almost certain that Axar Patel will play at No. 8. Who plays as the other spinner? Varun or Kuldeep Yadav. So, there’s a clear toss up between Axar and ‘Aman’ now. Yes, Axar and Jadeja are like-for-like all-rounders but will you drop somebody who is a potential captaincy candidate in limited-overs cricket for your team? I doubt, maybe the team management doubts too.
Life has not been fair to you ‘Aman.’ We hope you will grab your chances as and when they come. We know you will give it your all because another ‘Aman’ said –‘Kya paata, kal ho na ho!’
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