Former India pacer Balwinder Singh Sandhu has claimed that he once told Washington Sundar that he could bat at No. 3 in Test cricket. The all-rounder was given the role during the recent Kolkata Test against South Africa, and he looked assured. Ad Although Sai Sudharsan batted at three during the previous series against the West Indies, the Indian coaching staff promoted Sundar to one down. The left-hander put on a promising display, scoring 29 and 31 on a tricky Eden Gardens surface. He was India’s top scorer in the fourth innings, but the hosts failed to chase down 124. Writing in his column for Mid-day, Sandhu remembered that Sundar showed plenty of promise during a tournament at the NCA, peeling off three centuries in four games. He recalled: Ad Trending “Washington Sundar impressed me. Batting at No. 3 was a good move. He should have been the third spinner too, but he bowled just one over. I remember Washington at 18, during my NCA days. I pushed him to bat at No. 3 in a NCA tournament and he scored three hundreds in four games. I had told him then, ‘One day, you’ll bat No. 3 for India in Test cricket’ because he had technique, temperament, and, most importantly, hunger. Ad “In Kolkata, he learned quickly by watching Temba Bavuma’s gritty defence and KL Rahul’s innings. He trusted his technique something most others failed to do.” Even though India opted for four spinners, Sundar barely bowled. He sent down only one over in the first innings and didn’t bowl in the second. “Always one step ahead” Balwinder Singh Sandhu hails Simon Harmer’s match-winning spell against India Sandhu was particularly impressed by off-spinner Simon Harmer’s display in the Kolkata Test. He also praised his take-down of Rishabh Pant in the second innings. He elaborated: Ad “Finally, full marks to Bavuma. His batting was a masterclass in grit and patience. South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer was brilliant too clever, subtle, always one step ahead. The way he trapped Pant was textbook: shift the line to off stump, draw him across, then bowl the slower, tempting ball on middle-leg. Pant pushed at it, and the catch was easy. Sometimes the answers are simple: Preparation. Patience. Hunger. Learning from mistakes. Sadly, that’s exactly what’s missing right now.” India will be keen to level the two-game series in the second Test, beginning on November 22, in Guwahati. × Feedback Why did you not like this content? Clickbait / Misleading Factually Incorrect Hateful or Abusive Baseless Opinion Too Many Ads Other Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news Edited by Sankalp Srivastava.
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“Had told him, ‘one day, you’ll bat No. 3′” – Ex-India cricketer’s interesting revelation about Washington Sundar after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test
