Coach Gautam Gambhir’s trust in Washington Sundar turned the tide for India | Cricket News

The smile on India head coach Gautam Gambhir said it all as Washington Sundar led the team back into the dressing room after career-best figures of 7/59 in his first Test match in over four years. Last Sunday, despite already having four spinners in the squad, his inclusion for the second Test came out of the blue. On Day 1 morning at Pune, his inclusion in the XI in place of Kuleep Yadav, was not just a bold move for it had all the signs to backfire if the narrative went wrong for India.In Chennai, watching Washington run-through New Zealand on Tuesday, former India player and coach Sridharan Sriram wasn’t surprised any of it. He also expected that the all-rounder was played ahead of wr-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Two years ago, sitting in the Lucknow Super Giants dugout and board room, Sriram has heard what Gambhir had to say about Washington. “If you look at it, from the moment GG (Gambhir) came into the picture, Washy has been a regular across formats because he always believed he was being underutilised,” Sriram who tells The Indian Express.

T. I. M. B. E. R! 🎯
Cracker of a ball! 👌 👌
Washington Sundar with a breakthrough 🙌 🙌
Live ▶️ https://t.co/YVjSnKCtlI #TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @Sundarwashi5 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/OC8VS7fnwT
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 24, 2024
“Gautam always believed Washington, with his versatility, had a lot to offer in terms of a batsman and as well as a bowler. Gautam prefers multi-utility cricketers and Washington fits that bill. And Gautam knows how to use him. On Indian pitches, he wanted a finger spinner ahead of a wr-spinner, and Washington showed why it was a sensible move,” Sriram adds.
A string of injuries didn’t help Washington either, who has missed each of the ICC white-ball tournaments since his debut. There were times when even the all-rounder himself wasn’t clear about his role.
“I believe, with time, all of us, including Washington, will find an answer to it. I would say, he is a utility cricketer, who is in time with where the game is headed. As a batsman he can play anywhere, and as a bowler he is capable of performing his role across all formats. This versatility is unique. With opportunities, his skill sets will keep developing and he will figure it out on the way, which is his primary skill,” Sriram adds.

Innings Break!
Superb bowling display from #TeamIndia! 💪
7⃣ wickets for Washington Sundar3⃣ wickets for R Ashwin
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/YVjSnKCtlI #INDvNZ | @Sundarwashi5 | @ashwinravi99 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/TsWb5o07th
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 24, 2024
But since the IPL, both Sriram and M Senthilnathan, under whom he trains at the MRF Pace Foundation, say how in the last few months after the IPL ended, Washington has put in a lot of effort in terms of finding the groove in red-ball cricket. “Post IPL, I remember him reaching out asking what he has to do with the ball,” Sriram, who has seen Washington grow at MRF and at Globe Trotters, says. “I just advised him to concentrate on over-spin. When we worked together at Royal Challengers Bangalore, that’s what I told him and even now it was the same message. With his height, bounce is always going to be his biggest strength. And when you have good over-spin, you will be able to generate as much help from the surface. That is exactly what he did at Pune,” Sriram says.

And at Globe Trotters, Senthilnathan would effectively bring Washington back into the red-ball mould making him play First Division matches. In four matches, he would pick up 21 wickets, including 7/106 while bowling 41.5 overs. He would follow up that effort with another five-wicket haul. “He had been playing a lot of T20s, he had to again work on his patience and the mindset to bowl in long formats. It has to become a muscle memory, only then you will be able to adjust to the demands of the format you play. And you can get that only playing matches. That’s why even after coming back from the Sri Lanka tour, he immediately played league matches. In T20s, you are just pushing through the deliveries and looking for dot balls. You are looking for dot bat balls in Tests, but for a different reason and gameplan,” Senthilnathan says.