Washington Sundar and Marco Jansen had one thing in common on Monday. Both of them believe that Rishabh Pant’s strategy was good but there was a slight lack in its implementation. India’s acting captain Pant was playing on seven runs when he was caught by the wicketkeeper on a short ball from Jansen, which became a topic of discussion during the third day’s play. Earlier, Dhruv Jurel also played an unnecessary pull shot against the same fast bowler and was caught at mid-on.
What did Washington Sundar say?
Responding to the same question as Jansen, Washington said, “Any other day the ball would have gone into the stands and we would all be applauding and cheering. That’s the way it is. Sometimes you have to support his game plan and skill… Given that he’s set so many examples in the past, I think it’s just about supporting his skill. Obviously, the game plan didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.”
Despite India’s failure to post a big total, Washington said the pitch was good for batting. “It’s a very good wicket. You don’t get to bat much on wickets like this, especially in India. To be honest, it’s a lively wicket. If you spend time at the crease, you’ll score runs,” he said.
Washington has impressed with his batting. In the last Test, he came in to bat at number three, while here he looked most comfortable playing at number eight. When asked if he felt uncomfortable with the change of order, Washington said, “Not at all. To be honest, I want to be the kind of cricketer who steps up as per the team’s needs and bats and bowls wherever the team wants. I have to be ready and work for the team. That’s my mindset.”
He said, “No matter what situation I am in, I get to play different roles. I don’t think many people get this opportunity, so it’s just exciting.”