On Tuesday, July 14, at Edgbaston, India’s all-rounder Washington Sundar finished the first ODI chase against England with an unbroken 52 off 63 balls, hitting a vital six to win by six wickets. The run in response to England’s 258 stopped India’s losing streak on their troublesome current tour of the United Kingdom, which had seen them lose the five-match T20I series 4-0.
When Sundar arrived at the crease, India was already struggling at 160 for 4 after captain Shubman Gill was injured for 80 off 75 balls. The left-hander then established a crucial, continuous 102-run partnership with Axar Patel for the fifth wicket, stabilising the chase and guiding his team to victory. After remaining undefeated at 57 off 52 balls, Axar was named Player of the Match.
“It’s thrilling to perform a variety of parts in different formats. Few people have the opportunity to play multiple parts. I get to take on those many jobs, be in various settings, and, of course, do everything in my power to assist the team succeed. At the press conference following the game, Sundar stated, “I’ve realised over the years that I have to keep improving my skill sets, which will help me whenever the situation arrives across formats.”
How was India’s pursuit saved by Sundar and Axar’s cooperation?
Despite the movement on the pitch, both batters were adept at adapting to the situation. Sundar praised his partner’s tenacity during their game-winning stand and hailed the captain’s prior help with the setup. “There was definitely a little bit on the wicket, but Shubman batted really well,” the all-rounder remarked, adding that the mix of aggressiveness and resilience proved to be key when India most needed it. The collaboration with Shubman was crucial, even for Shreyas. It appeared simple to us because of Axar’s important boundaries. It wasn’t as simple as it seems. We’re glad we won this game, and we played pretty well,” Sundar continued.
After taking 4-62 with the ball in his opening delivery and scoring the undefeated half-century, Axar became just the sixth Indian player to score a fifty and take four wickets in a single ODI. India is now well-positioned to chase a series finale in Cardiff on Thursday, July 16, after both all-rounders demonstrated their depth.
