‘Grateful to coach and captain’ – Washington Sundar sheds light on career-best performance in Pune

On Thursday, October 24, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Washington Sundar was in explosive form with the ball on Day 1 of the second Test match between India and New Zealand. His primary purpose in being draughted into the team was to trouble the New Zealand team’s left-handed hitters. To finish with figures of 7/59, his best in First-Class cricket, he troubled both left-handers and right-handers.

The show’s star talked about his incredible performance after the first day’s play ended. Following the conclusion of the first Test in Bengaluru, Sundar was added to the squad, marking his return to the Test arena after 41 months. The all-rounder thanked captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir for immediately including him in the starting lineup for the second Test.

“I was really appreciative of the coach and captain for the way it went, the fact that I wasn’t in the first Test but was called for this one and given the chance to play in the XI. It was an unbelievable sensation. God’s plan simply worked out wonderfully. I simply adjusted my pace occasionally and concentrated on hitting the specific spots, and I’m really appreciative,” Sundar told JioCinema.

Sundar took full advantage of the pitch, which gave the spinners a fair amount of help. In the first session, the pitch spun a lot, but not as much in the second, according to the cricket player from Tamil Nadu. In the third session, Sundar thought the pitch had calmed down before finally assisting the spinners.

“We honestly thought it would begin spinning right away. Though I don’t think it did much in the second session, it did spin in the first. The 25-year-old said, “The pitch settled down from the third session, but eventually it did spin.”

The visitors were bundled out for 259 thanks to Sundar’s outstanding performance both before and after the tea break, even though New Zealand was in a strong position at 197/3.

Rachin and Mitchell are Washington Sundar preferred wickets.

Out of the seven wickets he took on Day 1, Sundar was asked to select his favourite. After much deliberation, the young player decided on Daryl Mitchell’s and Rachin Ravindra’s wickets.

It’s unfair that I have to pick one. Rachin Ravindra, without a doubt, as he was batting well. Sundar said that Daryl Mitchell’s wicket was also a game-changer.

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Following Rohit’s dismissal for a nine-ball duck by Tim Southee in the third over, India ended Day 1 at 16/1. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were still undefeated at the wicket as India fell 243 runs short of New Zealand’s first innings total.