The limited-overs leg of India’s tour of Australia saw the hosts winning the ODI series 2-1 and losing the T20I series by the same margin. Following that, the 4-match Test series commenced on December 17 in Adelaide. India suffered a crushing defeat in the Pink Ball Test but bounced back in the Boxing Day Test, despite Virat Kohli’s absence, under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy.
India couldn’t win the 3rd Test in Syndey, given multiple injuries that had hit the camp. But injured Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari fought the Australian bowling attack for hours to save the 3rd Test. As Ashwin was ruled out of the 4th Test, Washington Sundar made his Test debut for India. The 21-year-old stayed back in Australia after the white-ball leg of the tour and practised at the nets, which later helped him in his unplanned Test debut at the Gabba.
“I was there for a months after the ODI series, it gave me an amazing opportunity to bowl on Australian soil and to improve my skillsets as well. Definitely have to thank the management for that. I got to know a day or two before the Gabba Test [ that I was in the playing XI]. Definitely, the pressure was there but more than the pressure the excitement was honestly more. To be able to play Test cricket for India is a special feeling. Nothing can beat that. So, yes I was very excited to go to the ground and be a part of the Gabba Test. It went really well and it was a dream come true,” Sundar told Boria Majumdar in an exclusive interview with Sports Today.
Sundar, who bagged Steve Smith’s wicket as his maiden dismissal in Test cricket at The Gabba, has credited the process that was involved.
“Before getting Smith’s wicket, 3 overs and all 3 were maiden. I feel was following the process, I just wanted to bowl tight because on Day 1, just wanted to keep things tight and bowl in the good areas, go with the plans. Which actually helped me get a wicket in that bargain and it felt really good getting that maiden wicket in Test cricket of Steve Smith. The way he was batting that day, on full song, and to have broken that particular partnership between him and Marnus, very glad about it,” he added.
India went on to win the 4th Test at The elusive Gabba and also lifted the Border Gavaskar Trophy after having won the series 2-1.
Watch the full interview on Sports Today at 2 pm on January 24.