Following his maiden Test and international ton during a hard-fought draw against England at Manchester during the fourth Test, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar said that the century was special and the feeling is “difficult to put into words” as reaching three figures in whites is “something truly unique”, and post a heartfelt message “Grateful for the people, and forever grateful to you, God,”
After missing out on centuries against England twice in the past, most recently in 2021, when he was left stranded at scores of 85* and 96*, Sundar got his moment when it mattered the most. Promoted to number five for his rock-solid technique to guard an injured Rishabh Pant, Sundar stood tall with leftie and seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, forging an alliance worth 203 runs and scoring his maiden Test hundred — a composed, unbeaten 101* that helped India pull off a dramatic draw against England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The 25-year-old all-rounder’s quiet gratitude came after a loud statement on the field, where he and Ravindra Jadeja (107) batted through the final phase of Day 5 to rescue India from what once looked like certain defeat. Reduced to 0/2 at the start of their second innings, India needed a miracle. They found it in the form of a rock-solid batting effort, with Shubman Gill (103) and and KL Rahul (90) also playing key roles.
This was just the second draw for England in 40 Tests under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, which was a rare occurrence in their aggressive ‘Bazball’ era. But it was a deserved result for India, whose batters absorbed immense pressure to ensure the series stays alive at 2-1.
Sundar shared his feelings while speaking to JioHotstar, saying, “It feels very special. Honestly, it’s difficult to put this feeling into words because a Test hundred is something truly unique. Every century matters, but this one holds special significance. I got the opportunity to bat at number five, and my only focus was to fight for an entire day. That was the only message from the coach as well. I am just really glad we managed to draw this match.”
Speaking about the team’s approach in their second innings, Washington said that the team wanted to play to the merit of the ball, as the wicket offered something to both seamers and spinners alike.
“Our focus was to stay disciplined and give everything we could. To experience the moments we did today, especially after managing to draw the game, feels amazing. I think the whole team played really well throughout the Test match, and now it is going to be even more exciting heading into the next one,” he concluded.
In three Tests of this series so far, Sundar has scored 205 runs in six innings, averaging 51.25, with a century to his name. He has also taken seven wickets in five innings at an average of 35.85, with best figures of 4/22 at Lord’s.
With the possibility of leveling the series still on the line, the stage is set for a cracking finale at The Oval. But for now, Sundar’s words and his resolve linger as the high point of a chaotic final day.
