Posts Tagged ‘BGT’
- In: Cricket | Cricket and Sports | General Lunch Time talk | India | New Zealand | Teams | Test | test cricket | Test match
- Leave a Comment
Whenever India’s famous victory at the Gabba in 2021 is discussed, the spotlight inevitably falls on Rishabh Pant’s match-winning heroics. Yet one of the most significant contributors to that triumph was Washington Sundar, a player whose very presence in the playing XI had been born out of necessity rather than planning.
When Sundar boarded the flight to Australia, he was little more than a backup option. India already had Ravichandran Ashwin, who was arguably outbowling Nathan Lyon in the series, and few would have imagined Sundar making his Test debut at the Gabba. But injuries had severely depleted India’s resources by the time the fourth Test came around, and when Ashwin was ruled out, Sundar found himself thrust into one of the most memorable Tests in Indian cricket history.
It was a surprise selection in more ways than one. Sundar had hardly played any first-class cricket in the years leading up to his debut, and questions remained about whether his off-spin was good enough for the demands of Test cricket. India viewed him largely as a like-for-like replacement for Ashwin, a player capable of contributing with both bat and ball.
Thrown into the deep end, Sundar responded admirably.
Bowling on a Gabba surface that offered little assistance to spin, he delivered a disciplined spell to claim the wickets of Steve Smith, Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon. His figures of 3 for 89 in 31 economical overs helped restrict Australia to 369, ensuring India remained in the contest.
If his bowling performance was impressive, his batting was arguably even more revealing.
Walking to the crease with India still staring at a substantial first-innings deficit, Sundar displayed a level of assurance that belied his lack of experience. After Pant’s dismissal, he joined forces with Shardul Thakur in what proved to be one of the defining partnerships of the match. Their counterattack not only rescued India from a precarious position but also laid the foundation for the famous chase that followed.
What stood out wasn’t merely the 62 runs Sundar scored. It was the manner in which he scored them. Against a quality Australian attack, he looked composed, technically sound and completely unfazed by the occasion. Rather than batting like a lower-order all-rounder, he looked every bit a genuine middle-order player.
The signs continued in the home series against England later that year. Sundar contributed valuable runs again and, at one stage, averaged more than 66 with the bat in Test cricket. While his bowling remained a work in progress, India appeared to have discovered a valuable all-rounder capable of strengthening the balance of the side.
Then came the setback.
Just as his Test career was gaining momentum, injuries halted his progress. Sundar disappeared from the red-ball setup and spent the next few years battling fitness concerns while re-establishing himself through domestic cricket and white-ball formats.
His recent return against New Zealand, however, offered a reminder of why so many people had been excited about him in the first place.
The headline numbers, a stunning 7 for 59, immediately grabbed attention. Conditions in Pune undoubtedly favoured spin, but it would be unfair to dismiss the performance as merely a product of the pitch. More encouraging than the wickets themselves was the improvement in his craft. Sundar looked more confident, more controlled and far more threatening than the bowler who made his debut three years earlier.
That development could be significant for India.
Replacing a cricketer of Ashwin’s stature is impossible. Players with more than 500 Test wickets do not come around often. But Sundar offers India a different kind of value. He is a capable top-order-quality batter who can bowl meaningful overs, provide balance to the side and contribute in multiple phases of a Test match.
India’s future will not depend on finding another Ashwin. It will depend on discovering players who can build their own identities.
Washington Sundar has the talent to be one of them.
The Gabba showed India what he could become. His comeback against New Zealand suggests that promise remains very much alive. The journey is still in its early stages, but after years interrupted by injuries, Sundar finally has another opportunity to establish himself in the format where he first announced his arrival.
For both Sundar and Indian cricket, that is an exciting prospect.
- In: Australia | Batting | BCCI | Cricket | Cricket and Sports | India | Teams | Test | test cricket | Test match | Tests
- Leave a Comment
So finally the moment has arrived, the Border Gavaskar Trophy begins with the first Test at Nagpur tomorrow. The series also has an extra incentive for India as a win here would give them an opportunity to fight for the World Test championship title once again and also will make the home team number 1 in the rankings. There is a lot at stake for India. The Indian team though over the past 12 months hasn’t had the greatest of time in Tests but again their home dominance cannot be questioned. The pitch at Nagpur has been the talking point over the past few days but again it should not be a surprise as to what sort of surface awaits the visiting Australian team. India who have Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel & Kuldeep Yadav in the squad for sure would be wishing for a track which would aid their strength. The Australian team though know what they would be facing but again apart for Nathan Lyon they don’t have much experience in the spin department.
The Test is all set to begin tomorrow and lets look at the possible XI India might field in the first Test.
Openers:
Rohit Sharma (C) is all set to return at the top of the order after missing quite a lot of cricket over the past 12 months. He has been India’s best batter at the top over the past 2 years in Tests. Rohit averages 45 in the last 13 Tests with 2 hundreds and being the captain his batting will be crucial for India in this series.
KL Rahul (VC) in all probability will return to the top along with Rohit Sharma. KL Rahul has not been in greatest forms over the past year and his career at the top of the order in Tests has been in question for a while now. His Test average is 35 after 45 Tests and with Shubman Gill breathing down his neck he for sure would want to get back to scoring some runs in this series. Being the vice-captain of the side him scoring runs will be a huge boost for the team and for Rahul himself.
Middle Order:
Cheteshwar Pujara will return to the number 3 spot in the batting order after being briefly dropped from the side. Pujara though seemed to have regained some sort of form and had a good time in Bangladesh. His ability to play spin will be crucial for India as the pitches are expected to turn.
Virat Kohli will come in at number four behind Pujara but their returns in Tests cannot be more contrasting. While Pujara seems to have regained some sort of form with the bat, Virat has largely struggled in this format. The series in Bangladesh saw him struggling against spin once again and there is a huge question mark over his career in Tests ahead of this series. Virat scoring runs will be a huge boost for India and his record against Australia will give hope for the fans and the team alike.
Shubman Gill might actually pip Surya Kumar Yadav in the middle order in the first Test in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. The kind of form Shubman Gill is in right now, it will be hard to keep him out of the playing XI. Even though Gill hasn’t played in the middle order for India in Tests yet, he might still get the nod ahead of SKY.
Wicket Keeper:
Few months ago there wouldn’t have been any discussions about this spot in Tests for India but again with Rishabh Pant missing the team need to pick a keeper between KS Bharat and Ishan Kishen. Bharat has been in the Indian squad as an understudy for Pant for a while and he might get the nod ahead of Ishan Kishen who hasn’t been in greatest of forms recently. In terms of their FC records there is hardly anything to separate them but again Bharat has more experience with keeping being crucial on these tracks he mostly will get the nod ahead of Kishen.
Spin Bowling/All-rounders
The return of Ravindra Jadeja will be a huge plus for India. Jadeja is not only one of the best spinners in the world, he also is one of the best all-rounders in the game. Jadeja missing has been a huge hole in the Test side and his return means that India will get back the balance which they had been missing in Tests.
Ravichandran Ashwin is all set to return as India’s premier spinner. While Ashwin’s ability in Asia cannot be questioned with the ball, his batting in Bangladesh is something which will give India some much needed cushion lower down the order.
The third spinner spot is something which will be fought out between Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Kuldeep Yadav has been in red hot form recently in all formats and does give India some variety as both the premier spinners for India are finger spinners as well but again you cannot fault Axar Patel’s Test record with the ball which is nothing short of extraordinary. But again there is a chance that India might pick Kuldeep just for a wrist spin option. This is probably the only position in the XI which might go either way.
Fast Bowlers:
With three spinners in the XI there is space only for 2 fast bowlers and it will surely be Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. Shami is India’s most experienced pacer and Siraj has been in such a great form recently that it is hard to keep him out from any playing XI. Umesh Yadav in the squad will unfortunately miss out.
So that is my playing XI. On a Nagpur pitch which is supposed to be a dry surface aiding spin the above playing XI will probably offer India the best chance of putting one past the Aussies and get to a winning start. The absence of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer would be a big loss for India but I think they just might have enough firepower to challenge Australia at home.
My Indian Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), C Pujara, V Kohli, S Gill, R Jadeja, KS Bharat, R Ashwin, K Yadav/A Patel, M Shami, M Siraj
Australian Likely X1: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey (WK), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (C), Nathan Lyon, M Starc, J Hazlewood
girisopinion
