Former English skipper Michael Vaughan heaped praise on young Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar and said that he was too good to bat at no.8 in the Indian team lineup.
Vaughan also lauded Sundar for his backfoot punch on a James Anderson delivery in the fourth Test match against England and said that former India captain Sourav Ganguly would have loved to have played that stroke himself.
Washington Sundar notched up his third Test half century in the recently concluded fourth Test match against England. The 21-years-old was unlucky with the bat throughout the four-match Test series.
Sundar missed out on his maiden Test hundred twice in the series, scoring 85* in the first Test match and 96* in the fourth Test match as he was left stranded without partners on both occasions.
However, his knock of 96* in the fourth Test match was rated highly by many pundits across the globe. The left-hander played many attractive strokes during his unbeaten knock, the highlight of which was the backfoot punch he played off James Anderson towards the end of Day 2 in Ahmedabad.
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Addressing the same, former English skipper Michael Vaughan said even former India captain Sourav Ganguly would have loved to have played that stroke himself.
“He's (Sundar) too good a player to be at No.8 that punch he played off Jimmy Anderson through extra cover towards the end of the day... Sourav Ganguly would have been absolutely delighted to have come off his blade,” Michael Vaughan told Cricbuzz.
Vaughan said that Washington Sundar has all the attributes to play in the middle-order and added that the latter is very technically sound.
“I look where he bats at No. 8 and think he's not gonna bat there for long. He's certainly a player that could bat in the top six in time. That's gonna give India a great option, he can bowl his off spin.Technically very strong, plays straight, picks up length quickly, he's got good options on both front and back foot off-side and on-side,” he said.
Vaughan called Pant and Sundar the future of Indian cricket. Specifically praising Sundar. He said the all-rounder's calmness and courage in pressure situations make him stand out.
“Again we have to look at the age... 21 Washington Sundar, 23 for Rishabh Pant. They are certainly the future of Indian cricket. I look at the way Sundar has played in his short test career. The way he started in Australia and obviously here in his own backyard, you obviously expect him to do well but it's the pressure... We've seen him play with great courage and a calm head,” Micheal Vaughan said.
Vaughan further said that Sundar looks completely in control even in pressure situations.
“I always look at younger players on how they react to pressure situation. Can they send back a message to the dressing room that they are in control? And I think Sundar has shown that he is in full control,” he concluded.
(Cricbuzz Inputs)
