Washington Sundar's value beyond the headlines

In a Test dominated by centuries, near-centuries and a dream debut, Washington Sundar's contribution was easy to overlook. By the end of India's innings-and-300-run victory over Afghanistan in Mullanpur, the spotlight belonged elsewhere. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill had scored hundreds. Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant made 80s. Manav Suthar had announced himself with a six-wicket haul on debut. Sundar, meanwhile, had quietly compiled an unbeaten 52 and followed it up with figures of 4 for 36 in the second innings.

Over 18 Tests, Sundar now has six half-centuries and four four-wicket hauls. He has batted as high as No. 3 and as low as No. 9. He has opened the bowling, operated as a holding spinner and contributed important runs lower down the order. Few players in the side have moved between as many roles.

The batting came first in Mullanpur. When Sundar arrived at the crease, India's top order had already done the heavy lifting. Rahul, Sudharsan, Gill and Pant had built the platform. The requirement was simply to add a few more runs before declaration. Sundar provided exactly that.

"I felt really good, especially to play this format after a while. I just wanted to get a lot of volume coming into the game and obviously I felt like I was getting the rhythm right from the scratch, from ball one. And that was definitely a very good feeling," Sundar told the broadcaster after the match. "Definitely, it felt really good, both with the bat and the ball. I wanted to show good discipline with the bat and glad the way I sort of approached the entire innings and God was kind."

The emphasis on discipline was evident. Sundar's batting has evolved steadily over the years. Earlier this year, India pushed him up to No. 3 in Kolkata. In Manchester, he and Ravindra Jadeja batted India to safety with unbeaten hundreds. In Mullanpur, he returned to a more familiar lower-order role.

"I try and focus on batting and bowling equally, especially in preparation. I try and give equal volume and equal time to both batting and bowling. I enjoy doing both of them, no matter what, I have got to be turning up every single day and obviously keep improving my skillsets. There is so much to sort of see in this game and obviously learn and improve every single day. So, I look forward to doing that every single day."

The same approach was reflected in his bowling. The headlines belonged to Suthar, and understandably so. A seven-wicket match haul and a Player of the Match award on debut are difficult to ignore. Yet Sundar's contribution with the ball was significant in its own right.

Before this Test, bowling in familiar home conditions had not brought him much reward. He had gone wicketless in three innings and had picked up only one wicket in five others, including Afghanistan's first innings in Mullanpur. His figures of 4 for 36 in the second innings therefore represented more than just a supporting act in another spinner's success story.

Sundar may not always be the spinner generating the most attention, but captains value the control he brings. Against Afghanistan, that control brought rewards as well. Those qualities are only part of the reason Sundar remains valuable. Equally important is the temperament that allows him to move between roles without appearing affected by either success or disappointment.

Kotak's assessment after the match focused largely on Sundar's temperament. "He has been around in the system since India A. First series I did in 2019, he was part of that. Before that also, I think, he has played for India. So, he has been around for a long time. He is very mature, I feel.

"What I have observed is, whether he gets an opportunity to bowl or bat, sometimes, he doesn't play. I don't see any difference in his work ethics or behaviour. There are players who do get disappointed. Washi, one thing I have been observing for a long time: I have never seen him change his work ethics or behaviour.

"So, if you keep working hard for 6-7-8 years and keep maturing, I think you perform. So, in England also, when we were saving the Test, he and Jadeja got 100s. So, those are the signs that... he is obviously still young, but a very mature player."

"No matter where we play cricket, at the end of the day we are preparing our skill sets and looking to improve every single day. That way you know when the game time comes, you've got to be ready and you try to be ready for the opportunity when you get it. I think in terms of preparation, I've always been there and turned up every single day. That sort of made me believe that whenever my opportunity comes, I'll be ready and I'll be able to bring my A game."

Mullanpur was another example of the role Sundar increasingly occupies in this side. He was not the centurion, the near-centurion or the debutant collecting wickets by the handful. Yet he contributed an unbeaten half-century, picked up four wickets in the second innings and played his part in India's biggest Test victory by an innings margin.

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