Washington Sundar Poised to Fill Ravindra Jadeja’s Shoes in T20Is
Following the recent retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20I cricket, the Indian cricket team is actively seeking replacements for these key players. With over a decade of experience in the national setup, the absence of these stalwarts presents a significant challenge, particularly with Jadeja’s dual capability as a reliable batsman and bowler.
While Axar Patel is the front-runner to take on Jadeja’s role, Washington Sundar is also in contention. Currently on tour in Zimbabwe, Sundar expressed his readiness to step up in Jadeja’s absence. He stated, “I need to do well where I am good at and what I am capable of, especially with my preparation. I need to give my 100 percent every single day. That’s something that I have not compromised on.”
Sundar emphasized the importance of consistent preparation, saying it helps him stay focused and confident in his abilities. “It’s a great opportunity for me to play for India, and I am blessed with it. I need to keep my job consistently and keep preparing to improve,” he added.
In the ongoing series against Zimbabwe, Sundar demonstrated his potential by returning impressive bowling figures of 3 for 15, contributing significantly to India’s 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
In the recent match, India opted to bat first, setting a solid total of 182 for 4. Key partnerships were crucial, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 36 and captain Shubman Gill making 66 runs. Gill later partnered with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who added 49 runs to the total.
During the run chase, India put Zimbabwe on the back foot at 39 for 5. However, a spirited 77-run partnership between Dion Myers (65* off 49 balls) and Clive Madande (37 off 26 balls) revived Zimbabwe’s innings. Despite their efforts, India’s bowlers maintained their composure, restricting Zimbabwe to 159 for 6 by the end of the innings.
As the Indian team navigates this transition period, Sundar’s readiness to seize the opportunity could be pivotal in maintaining the team’s competitive edge in T20 cricket.
