“I am disappointed he didn't get a 100” - Washington Sundar’s father not satisfied with son’s fifty
Washington Sundar’s father M Sundar has revealed that the Indian all-rounder had assured him he would get a big score whenever he got a chance to bat. However, Sundar Sr. is a tad disappointed that his son couldn't convert his fine innings into a century.
Washington Sundar scored 62 in his maiden Test innings at Brisbane to help India reduce the first-innings deficit to just 33 runs. The visitors had earlier slipped to 186-6 and were in danger of conceding a big lead.
"I told him whenever you get a chance, get a big score. He said, 'Sure I will'," said Washington Sundar's father.
According to Washington Sundar’s father though, the 21-year-old should have turned aggressive once wickets started falling. M Sundar told IANS in this regard:
"I am disappointed he did not get a 100. When Siraj came, he should have hit fours and sixes. He is capable of that. He should have gone for sixes. He could have gone for pulls and big hits. Perhaps, he thought of trying to come close to Australia's total, as the deficit was very less."
He further revealed that he speaks to Washington Sundar from Chennai every day. Praising his son's batting abilities, M Sundar said:
“He is a natural opening batsman and has scored a lot of runs against the new ball. In Chennai League, he is the youngest player to score a hundred in the first division. At the age of 14, he got a century while opening."
Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur enjoy a day out with the bat
Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur were the unlikely heroes with the bat for India on Sunday.
After the visitors had crumbled to 186 for 6 in response to Australia's 369 on Day 3 at the Gabba, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur rescued India with a record-123-run stand for the seventh wicket.
While Thakur ended up top-scoring with 67, Sundar was the ninth wicket to fall, departing for a hard-fought 62 on debut.
The Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur stand is the new record for India’s best 7th-wicket partnership at the Gabba. The duo broke the previous record of 58 runs between Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar, made in 1991.
Thanks to the heroics of Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, India recovered to post 336 runs in their first innings.
Australia were 149 for 4 at lunch on Day 4 of the Gabba Test, leading by 182 runs. Mohammed Siraj dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (25) and Matthew Wade (0) in one over to lift the morale of the injury-ravaged visitors.