India all-rounder Washington Sundar delivered a standout performance in the ongoing Test series against England, impressing both with the ball and the bat. After leading England’s collapse in the third Test with four second-innings wickets, the 25-year-old reached a personal milestone in the fourth Test, scoring his maiden Test century while batting under immense pressure at No. 5.
Despite his achievements, it was Washington’s calm and humorous response to a tricky post-match question that caught everyone’s attention.
During England’s first innings in the fourth Test, Washington was not given the ball for an extended period, during which the opposition crossed 300 runs. But after being brought on post-Lunch on Day 3, he struck twice in quick succession, removing Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in back-to-back overs.
In a post-match interview on Sky Sports Cricket, Washington was asked, “Did your captain forget that you can bowl in the first innings?” — a reference to captain Shubman Gill's delayed decision to bring him into the attack.
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With a smile, Washington replied, “I'm not giving any headlines this time!” prompting laughter from former England cricketers Stuart Broad and Nasser Hussain, who were on the panel.
“You need to work on your tips and hints out there — ‘I'm loose, I'm ready to go,’” Broad joked, offering light-hearted advice.
Washington added, “Most of the time, I am around the square, so I'm sure I cross him every now and then. But yeah, whatever the team needs.”
The off-spinning all-rounder went on to deliver with the bat as well. Promoted to No. 5 after Rishabh Pant was ruled out with a toe injury, Washington steadied the innings alongside captain Gill. He showcased grit and maturity, running hard and negotiating the second new ball effectively.
His innings of 101* included nine boundaries and a six — a vital knock that helped India save the fourth Test and keep their hopes alive of drawing the series.
Speaking to Cheteshwar Pujara on JioHotstar, Washington said, “This Test hundred feels very special. I just wanted to fight for an entire day and that was the only message given to me by the coach (Gautam Gambhir).”
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A former top-order batter in junior cricket, Washington said he was grateful for the opportunity to bat higher up.
“I was anyway going to bat at No. 5. I was padded up for two sessions. I was very glad that I got that opportunity. If I could bat higher up the order in future, it would be a blessing,” he added.
Source: NDTV