“One thing for sure, you always ask tough questions, controversial questions,” Washington Sundar remarked with an awkward laugh after delivering a match-winning performance in Pallekele. This moment came during the third T20I against Sri Lanka, where Sundar’s crucial contributions helped India clinch the series in a nail-biting Super Over.
The question that drew Sundar’s playful rebuke revolved around his frustration at having to sit out the first two games of the series. After all, he was only given a chance to showcase his skills in the final game when India had already sealed the series and were experimenting with part-time bowlers in crucial final overs.
The inquiry wasn’t merely a light-hearted probe; it stemmed from the larger narrative of Sundar’s cricket career in 2024. It was a year where opportunities seemed to slip through his fingers more often than they were presented. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), for instance, the enforcement of the Impact Player rule severely hampered his all-round capabilities. Sundar found himself bowling just five overs and facing a solitary delivery with the bat throughout the tournament, even as his team advanced to the finals. This period was particularly crucial as national selectors were zeroing in on their four-player spin attack for the upcoming World Cup. Yet, Sundar’s primary role during this phase was carrying drinks for his team.
Outside the IPL, Sundar’s form barely improved. He played in only three Ranji Trophy matches, delivering fewer than 50 overs in total. However, the tides turned somewhat when he joined India’s second-string side in Zimbabwe post the World Cup. Here, Sundar shone brightly, notching up the Player of the Series award. His efforts, however, did little to alter his position within the main squad. Upon his return, he was once again relegated to the bench for the first two T20Is in Sri Lanka, even as India’s near full-strength squad took to the field.
Regardless of how he truly felt about these setbacks, Sundar offered a pragmatic perspective on his situation. “Unfortunately, only eleven can play. So whenever the team needs me and whenever I’m out on the park representing my country, I need to give my hundred percent.
. I need to do my job so that my team is winning. Whenever an opportunity is given to me, I’ve to make sure that I give my hundred percent and win games for India. That’s the only mindset I’m in,” he explained.
Sundar’s assessment is rooted in reality; India’s current spin arsenal is brimming with talent, and offbreak bowlers are rarely the preferred option in limited-overs cricket. Yet, in the spin-friendly conditions at R Premadasa Stadium during the ODI leg against Sri Lanka, Sundar managed to eke out some valuable game time. In those matches, Sundar’s combined figures of 4 for 76 demonstrated that he wasn’t lagging too far behind his contemporaries—Axar Patel (3/71) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/66).
India’s strategy of deploying three frontline spinners was in alignment with Rohit Sharma’s pre-series comments that the ODI series against Sri Lanka wasn’t solely a preparatory ground for the next year’s Champions Trophy, despite some experiments. The team opted for strategies that best suited the prevailing conditions. Nevertheless, with just six months and four matches remaining before the grand tournament, a pressing question looms large: Where does Sundar fit into India’s upcoming ODI plans?
The temporary absences of key players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have acted as a blessing in disguise, providing their backups with essential game-time. In this context, Axar Patel’s stellar performances have posed a significant challenge to the rested Ravindra Jadeja. However, in conditions less spin-friendly than Colombo, the likelihood of fitting in a third spinner remains uncertain. Can India afford to include Kuldeep Yadav batting at No. 8 in such scenarios?
Adding another layer to Sundar’s case is his considerable batting prowess. He adds much-needed depth to India’s batting lineup and serves as a versatile left-handed floater, thereby presenting multiple strategic benefits for the team.
Sundar’s resilience and adaptability have only strengthened his case for national selection. Each time he has been handed an opportunity, he has capitalized on it, often far exceeding expectations. This proactivity has transformed Sundar from an overlooked talent to a crucial piece in India’s cricket puzzle, creating a selection dilemma for the Indian selectors and team management.
To play or to leave out Washington Sundar? Controversial much? Probably. However, his contributions cannot be ignored, and his inclusion might just be the X-factor India needs as they march toward one of cricket’s biggest stages. The conundrum remains: Where does Sundar fit in India’s ODI puzzle?