Washington Sundar made a remarkable comeback to the Indian Test squad, achieving a stunning 7-wicket haul during the first innings of the Pune Test against New Zealand. His performance not only solidified his position but also established a new record in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The selectors’ trust in Washington paid off as he showcased his skills at the MCA Stadium in Pune, claiming 7 wickets on Day 1 of the second Test. This effort led to a significant collapse in the New Zealand batting order.
In his first Test appearance in over three and a half years, Washington’s bowling was exceptional, outshining veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who have long been mainstays for India in home Tests. On the first day, Washington’s technique focused on targeting the right areas, consistently pitching the ball at a good length. He effectively spun the ball away from left-handers while employing under-cutters and flat deliveries to trouble right-handers, causing chaos in the New Zealand lineup.
Also Read: Washington Sundar’s 7-Wicket Haul Sends New Zealand Packing for 259 on Day One in Pune
His dominance in the first innings made him the first Indian right-arm spinner, other than Ashwin, to claim a five-wicket haul since 2011. The last Indian right-arm spinner to achieve this feat was Harbhajan Singh during a Test in Cape Town.
Washington’s precision, often praised in white-ball cricket, was evident as he dismissed five batters in this innings. This marked the first instance since Ravindra Jadeja’s spell of 2/23 against Australia where an Indian bowler knocked down the stumps of five batsmen in a single innings.
Most Wickets Bowled in an Innings (India)
- 5 Jasubhai Patel vs Aus, Kanpur 1959
- 5 Bapu Nadkarni vs Aus, Brabourne 1960
- 5 Anil Kumble vs SA, Joburg 1992
- 5 Ravindra Jadeja vs Aus, Delhi 2023
- 5 Washington Sundar vs NZ, Pune 2024
Best WTC 2023-25 Bowling Figures for India
Washington surpassed Ravichandran Ashwin’s best figures in the current WTC cycle, with his impressive 7/59 edging out Ashwin’s 7/71. These two bowlers are the only Indians to take 7 wickets in an innings in this WTC cycle.
Besides them, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have each recorded 6 wickets in an innings, while Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav achieved 5.
- Best Figures for India Against New Zealand in Tests
- 8/72 S. Venkatraghavan, Delhi 1965
- 8/76 E.A.S. Prasanna, Auckland 1975
- 7/59 R. Ashwin, Indore 2017
- 7/59 Washington Sundar, Pune 2024
Spinners’ Dominance on Day 1
Following a strong showing from fast bowlers in the first Test of the series, Day 1 of the Pune Test showcased an impressive performance from Indian spinners. Few would have anticipated that spinners would claim all 10 wickets on the first day, especially considering Jasprit Bumrah’s sensational form in the previous Test. The Pune pitch did not favor spin bowling either, but Indian spinners executed their plans brilliantly, dismantling the New Zealand batting order in just 79.1 overs.
Spinners Taking All 10 Wickets in an Innings on Day 1 in India
- Ind vs NZ, Pune 2024
- Ind vs Eng, Dharamsala 2024
- Ind vs Eng, Chennai 1973
- Ind vs Aus, Chennai 1964
- Ind vs Aus, Kolkata 1956
- Eng vs Ind, Kanpur 1952
After the day’s play, Washington expressed his gratitude to Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma for their unwavering support.
“It’s incredible to be living the dream. I specifically manifested this moment for this series over the past few weeks. The way it unfolded, especially since I wasn’t part of the first Test and was called up for this match, is something I am truly thankful for. I’m deeply grateful to both the coach and the captain. It feels unbelievable,” Sundar remarked following the match.
Looking ahead, Washington Sundar aims to maintain his form and secure a spot in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad.
