Former Indian fast bowler Balwinder Singh Sandhu showered praise on Washington Sundar after he impressed while batting at number three in the opening Test match against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Sandhu recalled that he once told Sundar he would bat at one drop for India in Test cricket.
Sundar returned with scores of 29 and 31 in the first Test while batting on a difficult wicket. Meanwhile, India played with four spinners in the final XI and Sundar bowled a solitary over against the Proteas in the whole Test match. Sandhu said Sundar should have bowled more in the opening game.
Balwinder Singh Sandhu wrote in his column for Mid-Day, “Washington Sundar impressed me. Batting at No. 3 was a good move. He should have been the third spinner too, but he bowled just one over. I remember Washington at 18, during my NCA days. I pushed him to bat at No. 3 in a NCA tournament and he scored three hundreds in four games. I had told him then, ‘One day, you’ll bat No. 3 for India in Test cricket’ because he had technique, temperament, and, most importantly, hunger.
The 1983 World Cup-winning player added that Sundar took a leaf out of Temba Bavuma and KL Rahul’s book.
“In Kolkata, he learned quickly by watching Temba Bavuma’s gritty defence and KL Rahul’s innings. He trusted his technique — something most others failed to do.”
Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma scored a match-winning knock of 55 runs in the second innings. Furthermore, Simon Harmer scalped a total of eight wickets in the match and played a key role in South Africa’s success.
Sandhu concluded, “Finally, full marks to Bavuma. His batting was a masterclass in grit and patience. South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer was brilliant too — clever, subtle, always one step ahead. The way he trapped Pant was textbook: shift the line to off stump, draw him across, then bowl the slower, tempting ball on middle-leg. Pant pushed at it, and the catch was easy. Sometimes the answers are simple: Preparation. Patience. Hunger. Learning from mistakes. Sadly, that’s exactly what’s missing right now.”
India and South Africa will take on each other in the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, from Saturday onwards.
