CRICKET | Washington the latest to occupy the seat in the No. 3 musical chair game

GUWAHATI

Batting astatine No. 3 is 1 of the astir important roles successful Test cricket. The occupation statement is expansive: a batter indispensable beryllium technically dependable to look the 2nd shot of the lucifer and versatile capable to propulsion the crippled guardant erstwhile the openers physique a coagulated platform.

Over the past 3 decades, India has been fortunate to person 2 dependable batters who person owned that role. First, Rahul Dravid near a lasting legacy, and past Cheteshwar Pujara seamlessly took over.

However, successful caller times, filling that spot has go a crippled of philharmonic chairs. In the archetypal Test against South Africa successful Kolkata, Washington Sundar became the seventh and latest antheral to beryllium entrusted with solving this puzzle ever since Gautam Gambhir became the coach.

The aboriginal signs are good. The gangly left-hander whitethorn person made lone 29 and 31 but helium brought a consciousness of calm, courtesy his dependable method foundation. Despite India’s 30-run loss, helium was a agleam spot, remaining mostly untroubled connected a spiteful aboveground with uneven bounce. Notably, helium faced the astir balls successful the crippled (174).

His assurance, though, shouldn’t astonishment anyone, for helium started arsenic a top-order bat for Tamil Nadu earlier being utilized chiefly arsenic a bowling all-rounder for India.

“He has a dependable defence. When you spot it, you thin to play confidently. The mode helium played by getting to the transportation of the shot with the bat successful beforehand showed his confidence… without worrying astir getting caught astatine short-leg oregon silly point,” explained M. Senthilnathan, Washington’s long-time manager and mentor.

While the Eden Gardens fixture showcased his crippled against spin, the 26-year-old is arsenic adept astatine playing pace. In his debut Test successful 2021 against Australia, helium made captious contributions successful the memorable triumph astatine the Gabba successful Brisbane.

Earlier this twelvemonth successful England, walking successful astatine No. 5 astatine Old Trafford successful Manchester, Washington scored a match-saving maiden period connected the last day. In the 5th and last Test astatine The Oval, helium blazed a quickfire half-century, shepherding the process to acceptable up a celebrated triumph and assistance level the bid 2-2.

“Even arsenic a 14-year-old, helium had a batch of clip against gait bowlers,” added Senthilnathan. “More importantly, helium has the temperament to play the agelong crippled and unit bowlers to vessel to his strengths.”

Now that Washington is auditioning for the No. 3 role, it remains to beryllium seen if helium gets a longer tally than his predecessors B. Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair. Given the position’s importance, it whitethorn beryllium clip to intermission the music.