After a disappointing eight-wicket defeat in the first Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India have added all-rounder Washington Sundar in their squad for the second and the third Test against New Ze aland. Sundar wasn’t included in India’s initial squad which was announced ahead of the Test series. However, a few hours after the end of the first Test, the Board of Control for Cricket for India (BCCI) confirmed Sundar’s inclusion in the Indian squad for the ongoing red-ball series against Kiwis.
Washington Sundar was last seen playing a Test match for India against England in Ahmedabad in March 2021. The left-handed batter scored an impressive 96 runs with the bat in the first innings, and also took a wicket while bowling. Sundar made his Test debut against Australia at Gabba on January 15, 2021, and went on to score a half-century in his maiden Test for India.
Washington Sundar expected to make Test comeback after three years
Despite having a great start in his Test career for India, Washington Sundar was kept in sidelines by the Indian team management in the longest format. In four Test matches for India, Sundar has taken four wickets with the ball, and scored 265 runs with the bat an an average of 66.25. The Tamil Nadu cricketer was a part of India’s iconic Gabba win where he took three wickets in the first innings, and went on to score a fifty in his debut Test innings for India.
India are down 0-1 in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand after losing the first Test in Bengaluru. The hosts were bowled out for just 46 runs in the first innings, after which New Zealand posted 402, and took a lead of 356 runs. However, India made a comeback in the second innings with the help of Sarfaraz Khan’s (150 off 195), but could only give a target of 107 runs for New Zealand to chase. After that, the visitors chased the winning total comfortably, losing just two wickets, to register their first Test win in India after 36 years.
India’s updated squad for the second and third Test against New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar.
