New Delhi, Jan 17: While fans and former cricketers are pleasantly surprised at India’s tail wagging with No. 7 and No. 8 scoring half centuries, Washington Sundar’s father is upset at his son for not getting a Test ton. Washington Sundar was the ninth man to be dismissed at the Gabba Test in Brisbane after getting a half century on debut. He scored 62 runs..
“I am disappointed he did not get a 100. When Siraj came, he should have hit fours and sixes. He is capable of that. He should have gone for sixes. He could have gone for pulls and big hits. Perhaps, he thought of trying to come close to Australia’s total as the lead was very less,” his father M Sundar stated from Chennai. “I speak to him in Australia every day. I told him last evening whenever you get a chance, get a big score. He said, ‘sure I will’.
Sundar’s father is upset because he feels that his son’s batting capabilities are not being utilised. He is also surprised that Sundar is not a part of the Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy team for the last three years. “He has played 12 first class matches for Tamil Nadu. He has performed whenever, he has got an oppurtnity,” pointed out M Sundar.
Back in 2017, he was called up for the (pink-ball) Duleep Trophy final just a month short of his 18th birthday. The off-spinner and left-handed batsman picked 11 wickets and scored 130 runs (88 and 42) to help India Red beat an India Blue side that comprised the likes Ishant Sharma, Pankaj Singh and Jaydev Unadkat as well as Suresh Raina. However, in spite of that, Sundar has never been considered a player of the longest format. “We seriously were disappointed to when he was not included in the Test team after that performance,” said M Sundar.
Sundar was first spotted as a 15-year-old by former India opener WV Raman. “He was always very talented and he bats very well,” Raman said Sunday. “Look he opens the innings on many occasions. It has helped him to face the Australian pacers even though he has gone lower down the order. I never had any doubts about Washi’s (cricketer’s nickname) batting abilities.