India pulled off a massive fightback against England last night (July 27) to salvage a draw at Manchester and keep themselves alive in the ENG vs IND five-match Test series.

With India reduced to 0/2 in their second innings after already trailing by 311 runs, centuries from Shubman Gill (103), Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101) saved India from a series loss.

However, after the match, Washington Sundar’s father came down heavily on the Indian selectors for not giving his son regular chances in the Indian team. Sundar was extremely impressive with the bat after being promoted to the No.5 slot and previously also took two wickets with the ball.

The 25-year-old has been one of the top performers for India in the ongoing series. In three matches, Sundar has amassed 205 runs averaging at 51.25, which also includes his maiden Test ton. With the ball too he has delivered the goods, snaring seven wickets at an average of 35.85.

Washington Sundar has stamped his authority as an all-format player

For the longest time, Washington Sundar was viewed primarily as a white-ball specialist who only found a place in the Test squad when his senior Tamil Nadu teammate Ravichandran Ashwin was unavailable. However, Ashwin’s retirement after the Australia tour last year created a significant gap in the lineup, and Sundar appears well-equipped to step into that role.

Washington’s red-ball potential first became evident during the historic 2021 Gabba Test, where a calm and composed 62 on debut played a crucial part in India’s unforgettable victory. Just as his Test career seemed to take off, injuries sidelined him, delaying his progress. After a three-year hiatus, he made a strong comeback during the 2024 home series against New Zealand, marking a pivotal moment in his career. Finishing as the joint highest wicket-taker with 16 scalps across four innings, he outperformed even the most experienced spinners and achieved a career-best haul of 7 for 59, proving his worth in the longest format.

He subsequently travelled Down Under for the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Dec-Jan and is now showcasing his heroics on England’s soil.