MATCH STORY
Follow UsRavindra Jadeja is done playing T20Is, freeing up a spot for a spin-bowling all-rounder in the Indian T20I set-up. Axar Patel is almost a certainty for the 2026 edition of the mega event, but the former's departure means Washington Sundar is all set to get a long run to cement his place in India's squad for the shortest version.
That’s why despite playing only two games for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 Indian Premier League, Washington was named in India’s squad for the five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe. And, three games into the series, the 24-year-old has done his chances no harm.
In the first three encounters, the off-spinner has claimed six wickets at an average of 9 and an economy rate of 4.5. Washington has clearly been the best bowler so far in this series, having the best average and economy among bowlers from both sides.
Washington made his T20I debut in 2017 and has featured in 46 T20Is so far, but he has never been a regular member of the Indian T20I unit. The spin-bowling all-rounder has never featured in the T20 World Cup and has been in and out of the side because of injuries, lack of form, and India having the likes of Jadeja, Axar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Even when India needed an off-spinner for the 2021 and 2022 T20WCs, the Men in Blue went back to R Ashwin instead of trusting Washington. He played eight T20Is in 2023 and scalped five wickets at an economy of 6.3. Even in the high-scoring series against Afghanistan earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder operated at an economy of 7.6.
He was very much in the race for the 2024 T20WC, but then the IPL 2024 happened and Washington’s chances of making the T20WC squad flushed down the drain. In the five overs he bowled for SRH, Washington conceded 73 runs and took just one wicket. He leaked runs at an economy of 14.6.
He was so bad that India decided to go with two left-arm spin-bowling all-rounders for the T20WC in the USA and the West Indies, and it worked out quite well for the Men in Blue who ended up lifting the trophy without losing a single game.
With the next 20-over showpiece event happening in India in 2026, Washington's inclusion in the Zimbabwe tour made sense. You need at least two spin-bowling all-rounders in subcontinent conditions and the combination of Washington and Axar could bode well for the Men in Blue.
India started the series against Zimbabwe with a humiliating 13-run defeat but Washington had a good game. The 24-year-old picked up 2/11 in his four overs and then scored 27 in the run chase. Then in the second T20I, he finished with figures of 1/28, but his best was yet to come.
And that best came in the third T20I in Harare on July 10 (Wednesday). The offie registered his best T20I figures, picking up 3/15 in his four overs, and was named Player of the Match.
Once India posted a total of 182, it was always going to be difficult for Zimbabwe to chase down the target. The hosts lost their top-three batters - Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brian Bennett - in the first 19 deliveries, before Washington killed the game in the seventh over.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza tried to put Washington under pressure straightaway but that cost him his wicket. The offspinner kept it simple, bowling it outside off and Raza ended up hitting it straight to the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Johnathan Campbell was then lured into a drive in the same over, resulting in an outside edge going to the slip fielder.
Washington gave away only eight runs in his first three overs before being taken out of the attack. In the next five overs, Dion Myers and Clive Madande smacked 49 runs. The two put on 77 runs for the sixth wicket before Washington returned into the attack and got rid of Madande, getting him caught at deep square leg.
Washington did exactly what he has been doing this entire series. The offspinner kept hitting the good length and bowled outside off, looking for control and forcing batters to make mistakes. If you look at the above graphic, you will know how Washington has kept things simple. Almost 92 percent of his total deliveries in this series have been on a good length. He has also generated more turn than Ravi Bishnoi (2.5 v 2.3 degrees) in the first three matches.
What’s surprising is that Washington hasn’t bowled a single over in the powerplay this series. For someone who made a name for himself by bowling those defensive overs with the new ball early in his career, he has bowled most of his overs in the middle phase (9 out of 12) in these three games, and maybe that’s the right way to use Washington.
India has quality seamers like Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj to take care of the powerplay overs. We also saw Axar bowling in the first six overs in the 2024 T20WC. That way, India could get the best out of Washington and Kuldeep in the middle overs.
There’s not much doubt over his bowling, especially if he can keep himself fit, but India would want him to do a bit more with the bat. The left-handed batter has an average of 17.42 in T20s since 2023, which is not too bad for someone who will mostly bat at No.8, but his strike rate of 111.2 is something he will have to work on.
It’s still early days and he will be tested more against bigger and better teams, but for now, Washington is making all the right noise. He is making all the right moves to make that Jadeja’s spot his own; by the looks of it, Washington could prove to be an upgrade.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
