All-rounder Washington Sundar has been reduced to a floater in Test cricket. There is no set batting position for him, similar to that of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s approach to limited-overs cricket. From batting at no.3 at Eden Gardens, he found himself coming in to bat at no.8 in the ongoing Guwahati Test. One thing remained a constant, India suffered batting collapses in both Test. Sundar had to grind it out on Day 3 of the Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. While many questioned the tactics, Sundar is enjoying the excitement of not knowing when to walk out to bat.
"I would say I am the happiest to bat wherever the team wants me to bat. That way, it is a lot more exciting. This is a team game," Sundar said after a 48-run knock on Day 3.
Sundar said that he is a team man and the constant change in batting position is only an opportunity for him to play different roles.
"Not at all. Honestly, I really want to be the cricketer who steps up whenever the team requires and wherever the team wants me to bat and bowl. I have to be ready and get things done for the team," he said.
"No matter what situation I am in, it is very exciting for me that way. I also get to play different roles. I don't think many get that opportunity. So, it is only exciting."
Sundar faced 92 deliveries to score 48 runs. He shared a 62-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Kuldeep Yadav. The wrist spinner faced 134 deliveries, the most he has faced in a Test innings. Yadav showed application while others struggled to hold one end and scored 19 runs.
Sundar’s different batting positions -
In his short Test career, Sundar has batted at no.3, no.5, no.6, no.7, no.8 and no.9. The most he has batted at is no.8, followed by no.7. His only Test hundred came at no.5. He has two fifties each at no.7 and no.9 positions. At no.8, he has scored one half-century.
Sundar says Guwahati pitch isn’t a ‘snake pit’
Earlier, India went from 95/1 to 122/7. But Sundar doesn't feel that the bounce is too uneven. He feels that the better needs to spend time in the middle and runs will come.
"It wasn't a snake pit or whatever you may call it. It was a very good wicket. It was a true wicket. Not many days you get to bat on such tracks, especially in India. If you spend time there, runs are there for the taking," Sundar said.
"It wasn't uneven at all. He (Marco Jansen) is obviously the tallest going around and he gets that bit of sharp bounce off good length. We have played such bowlers quite a lot. On another day, we would have batted the same deliveries a lot better and it would have seemed like a very different scenario."
At the end of Day 3, South Africa had 26 runs on the board with openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram in the middle. South Africa have a 314-run lead in the bag.