Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Washington Sundar after he bowled a fine spell in the first innings of the second Test match against New Zealand at Pune on Thursday. Sundar, who replaced Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, returned with impressive figures of 7-59, which are his best returns in the red-ball format.
The off-spinner bowled a decent first spell but without any success and provided the crucial breakthrough of Rachin Ravindra, who was going strongly after scoring 65, before the tea break in his second spell. From there on, Sundar dominated the New Zealand batters and took the remaining seven wickets after Ravichandran Ashwin took the first three scalps.
Sundar was right on the money with his line and length and got enough assistance from the Pune track to reap rewards.
“It was extremely impressive, very interesting and very exciting as well because you were suddenly para-dropped. You were not part of this series and there would have been some reason why you weren’t there,” Aakash Chopra said on Colors Cineplex.
Chopra noted that Sundar didn’t start well but he was able to turn a corner once his bowling end was changed by skipper Rohit Sharma.
“Four other spinners were already present but you were brought in and played. The start was not good and there were a few more questions on your selection. However, then you changed your end. The story changed completely once the end was changed because he picked up seven wickets from that end,” Chopra elaborated.
As Sundar was bowling at a high speed, he wasn’t getting much help from the surface. However, he was more accurate in his second spell against the Kiwis.
“When you saw him bowl at the start, he wasn’t that consistent. He wasn’t bowling continuously at the same spot. Since he got a chance to play Test cricket after such a long time, it takes time sometimes. There are butterflies in the stomach which trouble you a little,” he replied.
“However, he got a little time to think after that. The end was changed and then things just fell into place. All 11 wickets today fell from that end. I feel he was more consistent and he rarely bowled lengths where the batters could play off the back foot. As a spinner, you are at your best when you force the batter to play all balls on the front foot,” Chopra observed.
India finished the opening day at 16-1 after New Zealand was bundled out for 259.
