Former cricketer Michael Vaughan has heaped praise on India player Washington Sundar following the latter’s unbeaten 96 in the final Test in the four-match series against England in Ahmedabad. Sundar missed out on his maiden Test century after India lost three wickets in the tail-end in five balls.
While his teammates Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel were hailed for their performance, Sundar received words of praise on his technique and strokeplay from Vaughan.
The backfoot punch Sundar played off James Anderson on Day 2 of the fourth Test left Vaughan in awe, as he observed that former India captain and present BCCI president Sourav Ganguly would have been proud to have played that punch off Anderson.
He further said that Sundar would soon see himself up the batting order as he was too good to stay at No.8.
“He’s [Sundar] too good a player to be at No.8... that punch he played off Jimmy Anderson through extra cover towards the end of the day... Sourav Ganguly would have been absolutely delighted to have come off his blade,” the former England captain told Cricbuzz.
“I look where he bats at No. 8 and think he’s not gonna bat there for long. He’s certainly a player that could bat in the top six in time. That’s gonna give India a great option, he can bowl his off spin.”
“Technically very strong, plays straight, picks up length quickly, he’s got good options on both front and back foot off side and on side,” Vaughan added.
Vaughan cited the age factor and added that Sundar may be just 21, but he is control in pressure situations despite being new at the Test level.
“Again we have to look at the age... 21 Washington Sundar, 23 for Rishabh Pant. They are certainly the future of Indian cricket. I look the way Sundar has played in his short Test career. The way he started in Australia and obviously here in his own backyard, you obviously expect him to do well but it’s the pressure... We’ve seen him play with great courage and a calm head.
“I always look at younger players on how they react to pressure situation. Can they send back a message to the dressing room that they are in control? And I think Sundar has shown that he is in full control,” he said.
