Boria Majumdar in Manchester
KL Rahul had just played a brilliant innings but to every Indian’s dismay in Manchester, he was out to that man Ben Stokes. England had the opening they needed and the new ball was round the corner. It was the moment that could have defined the match and the series. Had it not been for Washington Sundar that is.
First, it was a surprise to see Washington step out ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. The latter has played the new ball time and again and is perhaps one of India’s best batters this series. And yet, out came the young Washington against a tail-up English attack.
What we witnessed for the next five hours thereafter was his finest five hours on the cricket field. Yes, he was there at the Gabba and yes, he did play the hook off Pat Cummins. But Manchester will define Washington, what he can do and what he is capable of. Picking wickets at Lord’s and scoring a hundred here, the boy from Chennai has done enough to settle every debate.
The highlight for me was his composure against the new ball. England must have fancied their chances with Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes steaming in and Brydon Carse waiting in the ranks. A second wicket with the new ball after the one of Shubman Gill, and all of a sudden we were into the lower middle-order. While Rishabh Pant was ready, it was impossible to expect much from him with a broken foot. Washington had to put his hand up to be counted. And he did.
Against the new ball he was simply brilliant. Hardly beaten and hardly flustered, Washington showed exemplary defensive technique and mental fortitude. Yes, there were words said, but he hardly bothered. With Jadeja guiding him, he went about his job with a kind of temperament that will take him many a country mile in red-ball cricket.
Washington had once said to me: “There is pressure at every stage to be honest. If you are playing for your country in front of packed stadiums and with a billion people watching, there is bound to be pressure. But if you look at it, it is also an opportunity. I feel blessed to have this opportunity. To be able to do something for my country and give my best shot every time, I wear the India jersey with this ultimate dream”.
To be honest, Manchester was a dream fulfilled. Much like Gabba 2021, this Test match at Old Trafford will forever have a special place in India’s cricket history. And Washington will remember, having played key roles in both.
Going into The Oval, India should play Washington as a batting all-rounder and open up a space for Kuldeep Yadav. Against a very tired English attack, India’s seven batters – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Jadeja and Washington are good enough on a good batting deck. Play Kuldeep for Shardul Thakur and either of Akash Deep or Arshdeep Singh for Anshul Kamboj, and get Jasprit Bumrah to put his hand up with Mohammed Siraj. You have a chance to go back on equal terms and in the context of the WTC cycle; it could be as good as a series win. If such a thing happens, let me say it clearly – Washington Sundar will have yet again played a part.
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