Washington Sundar Celebrates Maiden Test Century in Thrilling Draw Against England

Sundar's Special Century

In Manchester, on July 28, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar expressed his joy after scoring his first Test century during a challenging draw against England in the fourth Test. He described the experience as 'special' and noted that articulating his feelings was 'difficult' since achieving three figures in Test cricket is 'truly unique'. Having narrowly missed centuries in previous encounters against England, including scores of 85* and 96* in 2021, Sundar finally seized his moment. Promoted to bat at number five to support the injured Rishabh Pant, he formed a formidable partnership with veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, accumulating 203 runs together. As they prepare for the final Test at The Oval, Sundar and Jadeja have given India a psychological edge.

Sundar’s All-Round Performance

Reflecting on the team's strategy during their second innings, Sundar emphasized the importance of playing according to the ball's merit, as the pitch offered assistance to both seamers and spinners. He stated, 'Our aim was to maintain discipline and give our all. Experiencing the moments we had today, especially after securing a draw, is incredible. The entire team performed admirably throughout the Test, and the next match promises to be even more thrilling.' In the ongoing series, Sundar has amassed 205 runs across six innings, averaging 51.25, alongside taking seven wickets at an average of 35.85, with his best figures being 4/22 at Lord's.

Match Overview

In the match, England chose to bowl first. Key contributions came from Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 runs), Sai Sudharsan (61 runs), and Rishabh Pant (54 runs), leading India to a total of 358 runs. Ben Stokes was a standout bowler for England, claiming 5/72, while Jofra Archer took 3/73. In their second innings, England's Zak Crawley (84 runs) and Ben Duckett (94 runs) set a solid foundation with a 166-run opening partnership. Joe Root (150 runs) and Stokes (141 runs) further propelled England to a total of 669 runs, with Ravindra Jadeja taking 4/143. After a shaky start, India responded with KL Rahul (90 runs) and Shubman Gill (103 runs) forming a crucial partnership, followed by Sundar (101* runs) and Jadeja (107* runs) solidifying India's position, resulting in a final score of 425/4, leading to a draw. The series stands at 1-2, with the final Test commencing on July 31.