Shortly after India pulled off a historic six-run win at The Oval to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2, a special moment unfolded in the dressing room. The moment reflected both the grit and unity of this new-look Indian side. As the players celebrated their dramatic triumph, Ravindra Jadeja stood up and called out, “Washi, come here and take it son.”
The ‘it’ in question was the 'Impact Player of the Series' medal, awarded by his co-stars to Washington Sundar for his all-round brilliance across the four Tests he played in England. The medal, handed over by Ravindra Jadeja in a video posted by BCCI.TV, was a nod from the team to a player whose resilience proved pivotal in India’s comeback.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! “Obviously a great feeling to be playing four games on a trot in a place like England. Always wanted to do well here,” said Sundar, addressing his teammates. “As a team, just the way we went about every single day, it was amazing. The energy we created, especially from a fielding perspective. We were always there for each other.”
Sundar didn’t feature in the opening Test at Headingley but was drafted in from the second match onwards and didn’t miss a beat. He delivered vital contributions with both bat and ball, including a match-turning 53 off 46 deliveries in the fifth Test, where he shared a last-wicket stand of 39 with Prasidh Krishna.
That knock, under immense pressure, helped India post a target that proved just enough, with England falling agonisingly short by six runs in their chase. Sundar also picked up seven wickets during the series.
His performances stood out in a series dominated by high individual scores and tense finishes. But more than just numbers, it was Sundar’s temperament in pressure moments that left a lasting impact.
For a side navigating a transition, Sundar’s emergence as a dependable all-round option provided a major boost.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less