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Washington Sundar's Priceless Test Half-Century Proves Why India Cannot Afford to Ignore Him
7 Jun 2026, 5:37 pm
Washington Sundar Is Impossible to Ignore: A Test Half-Century That Made a Loud Statement
Washington Sundar has been the kind of cricketer that pundits and selectors occasionally overlook, even as his results keep demanding attention. On Day 2 of the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, Sundar gave the cricketing world yet another reminder of why he belongs at the highest level: a composed, confident Test half-century that helped India build an enormous first-innings total.
His fifty was not the loudest innings of the match. Shubman Gill's captain's century, KL Rahul's anchoring hundred, and Rishabh Pant's explosive 81 all generated more headlines. But Sundar's contribution was exactly what a team in building mode needs from its all-rounders: reliability, clarity of purpose, and the ability to bat with freedom while keeping the scoreboard moving.
The Innings That Separated India's Good From Their Great
When Washington Sundar walked in to bat, India were already in a dominant position, but Sundar understood that every run on the board counted. Against Afghanistan's bowlers working hard in the Mullanpur heat, he took his time to read the conditions before shifting through the gears.
His fifty was a mixture of solid defence and well-timed aggression. He showed particular comfort against the spinners, using his feet well and hitting through the line with a clean, high elbow. Against the pace of Saleem Safi, who was producing an exceptional spell, Sundar picked the right balls to attack and left the others with minimal risk.
The half-century was a reminder that Sundar has been a consistent performer with the bat in the longest format. His batting average in Test cricket compares favourably with many specialist batters who occupy positions higher up the order.
The All-Round Question India Keeps Wrestling With
India's selection debates around Sundar have often felt unnecessarily complicated. He is an accomplished off-spinner capable of bowling economically and taking wickets on helpful surfaces. He is also a more than capable Test batter who can play in the middle order and lower order with equal effectiveness. Combining those two skills in international cricket is rare, and yet India have periodically struggled to make Sundar a fixture in their Test setup.
His performance in this match, where he contributed both with bat and ball in India's dominant display against Afghanistan, should put that debate to rest for the time being. The team management has done well to include him in the Afghanistan Test as part of a transitional Test squad that is finding its feet under Shubman Gill's captaincy.
How Sundar Has Evolved as a Red-Ball Cricketer
The Washington Sundar of 2026 is a considerably more rounded cricketer than the version that first burst onto the scene as a T20 specialist. His Test career, which has seen him perform across conditions in India, Australia, England, and West Indies, has shaped him into a bowler and batter with a strong understanding of what the longer format demands.
His bowling in red-ball cricket has become more disciplined without losing any of the natural off-spin that makes him dangerous. He uses flight and drift intelligently, and his height gives him a natural advantage when the ball grips in the surface. Selectors and coaches who have worked with him consistently point to his cricket brain as one of his defining assets.
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