Washington Sundar: Rising Star of Indian Cricket.

Introduction.
Washington Sundar, an Indian international cricketer known for his flexibility, was born on October 5, 1999. He bats left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin. Sundar represents Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and plays for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He debuted for the Indian cricket team against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Early Life.
Washington Sundar was born into a Tamil Hindu household in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on October 5, 1999. His father, M. Sundar, gave him his name in honor of P.D. Washington, who fostered Sundar’s passion for cricket. Sundar’s sister Shailaja Sundar, popularly known as M.S. Shailaja, is a professional cricket player. He began playing cricket at the age of four or five and had his early education at St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. He later graduated from the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science in Chennai.

Domestic and IPL Career.
Sundar made his Ranji Trophy first-class debut for Tamil Nadu on October 6, 2016. Sundar switched from batter to off-spinner the same way Ravichandran Ashwin did. In October 2017, he defeated Tripura in the Ranji Trophy and scored his first-ever first-class century. He also played for the Indian Under-19 World Cup squad in 2016.
In 2017, Sundar was selected by the rising Pune Supergiant to replace Ravichandran Ashwin. He made his IPL Twenty20 debut on April 22, 2017. After capturing three wickets for just 16 runs in his outstanding first qualifier, he was voted Player of the Match.
In the January 2018 IPL auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore bought Sundar. Later that year, he was added to India C’s Deodhar Trophy squad.
At the 2022 IPL auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad paid ₹8.75 crores for Sundar. In August 2022, while playing for Lancashire County Cricket Club, he made his debut against Northamptonshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup and County Championship, taking five wickets.

International Career.
In November 2017, Sundar was a member of India’s Twenty20 International team for the series against Sri Lanka. He also replaced Kedar Jadhav in the ODI squad due to an injury. Sundar’s first international wicket came when he dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne on December 13, 2017, marking his ODI debut. He became the youngest player to play for India in Twenty20 Internationals when he made his debut on December 24, 2017, at the age of eighteen years and eighty days.
After receiving much praise for his economical bowling during the powerplay, Sundar was added to India’s squad for the Nidahas Trophy in March 2018. In addition to being the youngest player in T20I history to take three wickets in a match, he was named Player of the Series.
After being initially selected as a net bowler for India’s 2020–21 Australia tour due to injuries to other bowlers, Sundar made an unexpected Test debut in the final match at Gabba. With his first Test wicket (Steve Smith) and a crucial 123-run partnership with Shardul Thakur, he helped India win the historic series. Sundar became the third Indian player to achieve a half-century in his Test debut in Australia.
In October 2024, Sundar defeated New Zealand to get his first ten-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Conclusion.
The narrative of Washington Sundar’s rise from an adolescent cricket enthusiast to an international celebrity is one of talent, tenacity, and genius. His versatility across all formats makes him a valuable asset to Indian cricket.

Behind the Name.
Washington Sundar’s odd name comes from his father’s admiration for a man named Washington, who supported him in his cricketing endeavors by paying for his education and buying him equipment. Sundar began to take bowling seriously with the aid of former Indian off-spinner M. Venkataraman. Before making his IPL debut at the age of 17, Sundar, who is renowned for his meticulous bowling, made a name for himself in domestic cricket.
Sundar’s rise in cricket, which is marked by his versatility and perseverance, continues to inspire many and suggests a bright future for this young star in Indian cricket.