Washington Sundar and Marco Jansen shared one trait in Guwahati on Monday. Although they both thought Rishabh Pant’s plan was sound, its implementation was a little off.
Batting on seven, India’s stand-in captain went after Jansen but ultimately edged the short ball to the keeper’s gloves, making it the buzz of the third day. Prior to it, Dhruv Jurel hit a pointless pull shot to the mid-on fielder off the same bowler.
“On another day, the bowlers would have gone into the stands and all of us would have appreciated and clapped. That’s how it is. Sometimes you just got to back their plans and their skill sets as well,” Washington’s answer was exactly similar to Jansen’s reply to the same question.
“Given the fact that they have shown a lot of proof and evidence in the past as well. I think it is just about them backing their skill sets. Obviously, execution didn’t go the way we wanted,” said India’s top-scorer on the day.
When asked if he thought the track was like a snake pit with Jansen suddenly making deliveries fly from length, he was candid.
“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 will get to bat on such tracks, especially in India. Honestly, it is a true wicket. If you spend time there, runs are there for the taking,” Washington’s response will hardly comfort Jurel and Pant, both of whom paid the price for reckless shot selection.
He further denied claims that as Jansen was getting the ball to rear up, there was a slight uneven bounce.
“It wasn’t uneven at all. He is obviously the tallest going around and he gets that bit of a sharp bounce off good length. We have played such bowlers quite a lot. Just on another day, we would have batted the same deliveries a lot better and it would have seemed like a very different scenario.”
Washington was not someone whose defense could be compromised by a “flighted query” about feeling uneasy after being moved up and down the batting order.
“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,” was all that one could extract out of him.
For the record, he batted at number three in the previous game and at number eight in the present one, where he appeared to be the most organized player. It’s a little unnerving, isn’t it?
“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 got to be ready and get things done for the team. That is the kind of mindset I am in.
“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,” his response was representative of the moments when one would cling to any position that the team was presenting.
As the conversation turned to the match scenario, it became clear that Washington adheres to the ageless maxim “Hope Springs For The Eternal” or else he wouldn’t be so upbeat in the face of overwhelming odds.
“Got to stay positive in life. You never know what will happen.”
