Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has heaped praise on Washington Sundar, expressing confidence that the spin-bowling all-rounder can establish himself as a long-term prospect in India’s Test setup.
While Sundar’s numbers in the ongoing Test series in England may not be headline-grabbing, his contributions have been meaningful. Batting lower down the order, the left-hander has scored 77 runs across four innings, with a top score of 42. With the ball, he has taken five wickets — four of which came in a single innings at Lord’s, where he played a key role in triggering an English collapse.
Despite making his Test debut in 2021, Sundar hasn’t been able to cement his place in the side — largely due to the presence of senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. However, with Ashwin now retired from Test cricket, Shastri believes Sundar’s time has come.
“I’ve always loved Washington,” Shastri said on The ICC Review following India’s loss at Lord’s. “When I saw him on day one, I said, ‘He’s the man.’ He can be a genuine all-rounder for India for many, many years. He’s only 25. I think he should have played a lot more Test cricket by now. He can be lethal in India, especially on turning tracks — as New Zealand found out during their tour.”
Shastri’s backing comes at a time when India are grappling with selection dilemmas ahead of the series-deciding fourth Test in Manchester. Amid fitness concerns in the squad, Sundar is expected to retain his place for the must-win clash.
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