England Tour Turns Spotlight on Washington Sundar’s Rise as India’s Spin Mainstay

When Washington Sundar walked into the England tour, many still saw him as a utility player — talented, promising, but not quite indispensable. However, a few matches in damp English conditions and suddenly the narrative changed. In a team brimming with world-class spinners, Sundar's quiet consistency and artful control emerged as a game-changing weapon.

His performances were not loud or flamboyant. There were no five-wicket hauls or whirlwind fifties. But in a series that tested character and adaptability, Washington Sundar reintroduced himself — this time not just as a bowler who can bat, but as a genuine spin allrounder with tactical intelligence and the calmness of a veteran.

The Forgotten Talent?

Sundar first caught attention with his poised debut in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That iconic Gabba Test, where he partnered with Shardul Thakur to dismantle Australia’s stronghold, made him a national darling overnight. However, recurring injuries, tough competition from spin stalwarts like Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin, and limited playing time threatened to push him out of the spotlight.

Despite sporadic appearances in white-ball cricket, he often flew under the radar — a player with potential, yet lacking sustained opportunity to prove it. Until now.

The Drift That Changed It All

One of the key talking points during the England tour was Sundar’s newfound ability to ‘drift’ the ball — a subtle but deadly weapon in a spinner’s arsenal. Drift — the sideways movement of the ball in the air due to revolutions and flight — is what separates the good from the elite. And Sundar, always a tidy off-spinner, seemed to have cracked that code.

Under the overcast skies and damp conditions in England, this drift allowed him to trouble batters even on flat pitches. He wasn’t relying on exaggerated spin or bounce, but on the deception of flight and trajectory. Batters leaned forward, only to see the ball veer away or dip late. It was elegant, cerebral bowling — not brute force, but refined art.

Bowling with Control and Intelligence

Sundar’s line and length discipline have always been his strength. What the England tour showcased, however, was his maturity. He read situations better, adapted to left-right combinations seamlessly, and bowled with a field-aware mindset.

He operated in the crucial middle overs — often a dull phase for bowlers — and ensured that batters couldn’t break free. Dot balls mounted, pressure built, and wickets came through mistakes. His bowling average for the tour, though not record-breaking, reflected his utility: a low economy rate, steady strike rate, and impact without fireworks.

More importantly, he gave India something it desperately needed — a second spin-bowling allrounder who could share Jadeja’s burden in Tests and ODIs and offer batting depth in T20s.

The Batting Promise Returns

Washington Sundar’s batting has always carried whispers of promise. A natural left-handed flair disguised in a right-handed batsman, he boasts a clean technique and composure. But a consistent batting impact had eluded him.

During the England tour, that equation started shifting. Whether it was rescuing the team from a mini-collapse or adding valuable runs in the lower-middle order, Sundar batted with calm assurance. His ability to rotate strike, manipulate gaps, and finish innings quietly added an extra 20-30 runs — the kind that makes all the difference in tightly contested matches.

He showed a particular ability to handle pace, often guiding short-pitched stuff past third man or upper-cutting with style — reminiscent of his U-19 batting days. The England tour showed that his batting was not just a backup skill, but a usable asset.

Mental Fortitude and Composure

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Washington Sundar rarely wears emotion on his sleeve. He’s quiet, focused, and unflappable — a trait that has started to reflect in his game.

On the field, his body language remained consistent, whether he was bowling to Joe Root or facing Mark Wood. He took responsibility during pressure moments and often emerged with breakthroughs that didn’t look dramatic on the scoreboard but turned the game in India’s favor.

This mental strength — to stay calm when wickets weren’t coming, or to trust his method over the flair — earned praise from senior players and commentators alike.

The Role Clarity Factor

One reason for Sundar’s success could also be the clearer role definition the team management has given him. In earlier stints, he was used sporadically, his role often undefined — sometimes as a powerplay bowler, other times warming the bench.

In England, he knew his spot: control the middle overs, bowl with patience, and chip in with the bat. That clarity gave him confidence — and his game responded in kind.

Head coach Rahul Dravid, who has long admired multi-utility cricketers, reportedly had a long one-on-one with Sundar before the series, asking him to embrace his inner spin allrounder. That conversation seems to have unlocked something.

Where Does Sundar Go From Here?

With the ODI World Cup cycle behind and the next T20 World Cup approaching, India’s search for versatile players is in full swing. Sundar fits that mold perfectly:

• He can play across formats

• He provides left-right balance with bat and ball

• He adapts well to different conditions

• He adds depth without compromising quality

Of course, competition remains fierce. Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, and others are vying for spots. But Sundar’s USP is his maturity, his calmness under fire, and his ability to do the quiet, essential things right.

 The Rebirth of Washington Sundar

The England tour didn’t make Washington Sundar a superstar. But it reminded everyone that in a team of specialists, sometimes what you need is someone who holds the game together. He may not bowl magic balls every over or smash sixes at will. But he does what every team craves — brings balance.

From the shadows of being a backup spinner, Sundar has ‘drifted’ — quite literally and figuratively — into a central role for India’s future plans. If nurtured well, this could be the beginning of a long and understatedly brilliant career.

India may have just found its next great spin allrounder.