Washington Sundar Defends India’s Aggressive Batting Plan
In the face of a crushing batting collapse on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa, all-rounder Washington Sundar has stepped up to defend the Indian team’s aggressive mindset. While fans and pundits questioned the approach after India was bundled out for just 201, Sundar insists the plans were spot-on—it was the execution that faltered.
Table of Contents
- The Collapse and Jansen’s Impact
- Washington Sundar’s Defense of the Plan
- Debunking the Pitch Excuse
- India’s Path Forward
- Conclusion
- Sources
The Collapse and Jansen’s Impact
The day belonged to South Africa’s towering left-arm seamer, Marco Jansen. Fresh off a blistering 93 with the bat, Jansen turned the match on its head with a career-best bowling performance of 6/48 . His relentless accuracy and steep bounce, amplified by his 6’8″ frame, triggered a catastrophic collapse for India. In a devastating spell, they lost 6 wickets for just 27 runs, crumbling from a relatively stable position to being bowled out for a meagely 201 .
This performance handed South Africa a massive lead of 288 runs, putting India on the brink of an innings defeat .
Washington Sundar’s Defense of the Plan
Amid the wreckage, Washington Sundar, who top-scored for India with a gritty 48, remains a pillar of calm resolve. Speaking to the media after the day’s play, he refused to be drawn into criticism of the team’s tactics.
“Execution didn’t go as we wanted,” Sundar stated clearly, defending the overall approach . He emphasized that the team had formulated sound strategies based on their proven skill set and trusted their batters to deliver. “We must back the batters’ skill set and the plans that we’ve made,” he added, reinforcing his belief in the collective ability of the squad .
Sundar’s own innings was a testament to resilience, sharing a crucial 62-run stand with Kuldeep Yadav that provided the only real resistance to the Proteas’ onslaught . His performance has been praised by fans weary of his inconsistent batting position, with one fan noting, “Hope the musical chairs with his batting position stops” .
Debunking the Pitch Excuse
One common scapegoat in such collapses is the pitch. However, Washington Sundar was quick to shut down that narrative. He clarified that the surface in Guwahati was actually quite good for batting .
His assessment aligns with general pitch reports from South African venues like Centurion, which are known for offering pace and bounce that suit fast bowlers [[11], [16], [18]]. The issue, as Sundar pointed out, wasn’t a treacherous track but the sheer physical advantage Jansen held. His height allowed him to extract awkward bounce from a good length, making him exceptionally difficult to handle on the day .
India’s Path Forward
Despite the massive 288-run deficit, Washington Sundar has not given up hope. His optimism, while perhaps a stretch from a mathematical standpoint, is a crucial psychological tool for a team reeling from a shock.
This series is a significant test for India under their new management, and how they respond to this adversity will define their character. The focus now shifts to damage control and setting a personal challenge for the bowlers to fight back. For more on India’s squad dynamics for this tour, see our analysis on why Sundar and Jadeja were preferred for the white-ball leg [INTERNAL_LINK:india-squad-selection-south-africa-tour].
For an expert, external perspective on building resilience in high-pressure sports environments, the American Psychological Association offers valuable insights that are applicable even at the international cricket level.
Conclusion
Washington Sundar’s defense of India’s aggressive batting plan is a masterclass in team solidarity and strategic faith. While the result on Day 3 was undeniably poor, his insistence that the plan was correct but the execution failed provides a crucial framework for the team’s review process. Blaming the pitch or the opposition’s brilliance alone is a dead end. True improvement comes from acknowledging that their methods were sound and focusing on the fine margins of performance that let them down against Marco Jansen’s exceptional spell.
Sources
- Times of India: ‘Execution didn’t go as we wanted’: Washington defends India’s aggressive approach
- Various reports on Marco Jansen’s performance and India’s collapse [[3], [4]].
- Statements and analysis on Washington Sundar’s innings and comments [[9], [21], [23], [25], [27]].
- Pitch reports for South African venues [[11], [16], [18]].