Barely Bowled, Barely Batted, But Washington Sundar Remains Unfazed

India have dominated West Indies in the two-match Test series and are just 58 runs away from completing a clean sweep, and they have done so without needing much from Washington Sundar. 

The spin-bowling all-rounder, who was India’s best player in the last home series against New Zealand, has faced just 13 deliveries with the bat and has bowled the least number of overs among India’s five frontline bowlers. Yet, Washington remains unfazed.

"I mean, it's just been a blessing honestly. To be an all-rounder is really heartening because you are always in the game. You have a great opportunity to make an impact for the team with both skill-sets and eventually, win the game for the team,” Washington said after Day 4 of the second Test against West Indies in Delhi, as reported by PTI.

"I have got to thank God for all the skills he's blessed me with. Obviously, in Test cricket, it's better to have as many all-rounders. I mean, if you go back and see, most of the teams who've dominated Test cricket for many years…

"I think they've had good quality all-rounders in their line-up and I'd say we've got some really quality all-rounders in our team as well. So yes, it's just an opportunity to either do something special with the bat or the ball given whatever the team requires, whatever the situation requires and eventually, win the game for the country."

After posting a massive 518/5 declared in the first innings, India’s spinners ran through the West Indies lineup, with Kuldeep Yadav claiming five wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 248, giving India a lead of 270 runs. India then achieved something they hadn’t done since 2015 - the last time they enforced a follow-on with a first-innings lead under 300 was against Bangladesh in Fatullah.

India had hoped for more assistance from the pitch for their spinners in the second innings, but the surface didn’t quite deliver. After bowling 81.5 overs in the first innings, India had to bowl 118.5 overs in the second, as West Indian batters put up a tremendous fight. John Campbell and Shai Hope both scored centuries, while Justin Greaves added an unbeaten fifty and 79 runs for the final wicket alongside Jayden Seales (32).

India bowled more than 200 overs in this Test, but Washington said this was not unfamiliar territory, referencing India’s previous series in England. "I mean, the England series definitely made us understand what it actually feels like to be on the field for five days because even in England, we fielded for about 180-200 overs every game. So, this definitely isn't something very new to us.

"One thing for sure is that we have got to be really fit and on top of our game in that aspect and in Test cricket you honestly expect that. You expect most of the Test matches to go until the fifth day and challenge you in every way possible."

Talking about the Delhi surface, Washington added: “This, I would say, is a typical Delhi wicket, where there is not much bounce and obviously, there wasn't a lot of turn on offer also in this game. But yeah, different venues play out quite differently, and that's the beauty about this format in particular.

"We play in a lot of different conditions -- be it home or away and obviously, all those conditions and the opposition challenge our skill sets and that's the beauty of this format. We keep going."