After suffering from a finger injury last year, India spinner Washington Sundar made his international return on a brilliant note. While Rohit-led-India routed West Indies by six wickets in the first ODI series opener on Sunday (February 6). Washington returned with an impressive spell in which he scalped three wickets while conceding 30 runs and played an instrumental role in India's comprehensive victory.
In the post match presentation, Washington talked about the challenges he faced and all he wanted to to do was improve himself as a cricketer.
"There were a lot of challenges but I just wanted to do what I could do to improve myself as a cricketer. That's all that's in my control and I was only focusing on that," Washington said.
He missed out on the T20 World Cup but Ravichandran Ashwin's no so good show in white-ball games and subsequent ouster brought him back in the mix as he made his international return with 3/30 against West Indies in first ODI.
While talking about the match, Washington said that he was happy that he could bowl to his strengths.
"I was just bowling to my strength and of course we had some plans for their batsmen. We just wanted to execute the plans and it was heartening to get off. I am happy that I could bowl to my strengths," Washington said.
Washington did a fantastic job while bowling early in the power-play, however, he also admitted that the experience of the Vijay Hazare Trophy helped him a lot.
“That’s something I have been doing for the last few years. I enjoy bowling in the Powerplay now. Even the fact that I played Vijay Hazare, that helped me bowl in different situations of the game. Even there, I bowled a lot with the new ball. All those experiences have definitely helped,” he said.
Washington missed out on the T20 World Cup but Ravichandran Ashwin's underwhelming show in white-ball games and subsequent ouster brought him back in the mix as he made his international return with 3/30 against West Indies in first ODI.
"There were a lot of challenges but I just wanted to do what I could do to improve myself as a cricketer. That's all that's in my control and I was only focussing on that," Washington said at post-match press conference," he added.
The 22-year-old has understood in past two years that there would be challenged now and then but he will have to carve out his own mechanism to counter the issues. He first missed the T20 World Cup in UAE where he was a sure-shot starter and then Covid-19 played truant when he was about to board the flight to South Africa.
"Yes, there will always be challenges, that's something that I have realised especially in the last couple of years.
"But what matters is how I push myself, keep getting better at the aspects that I want to and keep improving myself. I’ve tried to focus on it," he further added.
Washington also said that he has his eyes set on the two upcoming World Cups, T20 later this year & ODI World Cup next year.
"It was very very disappointing to have lost out on a chance to play the World Cup. But yes, there are two World Cups in the next 15-16 months, so that should be my focus," he said.
"More than anything, I have always wanted to be in the present and keep getting better as a cricketer.
"If I do that, there would be a lot of opportunities and also the fact that I would be able to perform a lot better. I have loved to stay in the present and enjoy the game," he further added.
