‘The execution didn’t go the way we wanted’: Washington Sundar defends India’s approach on day three, his role in the team against South Africa | Cricket News
Washington Sundar defended India’s batting approach on a day when Marco Jansen’s burst left the hosts in deep trouble in Guwahati. Speaking after the third day’s troubles, Sundar said the plans were sound even if the execution failed, echoing almost word for word what Jansen himself had said earlier when asked about India’s aggressive response. “Another day, the bowlers would have gone to the stands and we would all have been enjoying and cheering. That’s the way it is. Sometimes you just have to support their plans and their skills as well,” Sundar said, supporting Rishabh Pant’s decision to take on Jansen before scoring the short ball for 7. Dhruv Jurel had fallen to a similar shot earlier in the innings. He added that Indian batters have shown enough evidence in the past to trust their choices. “Given they’ve shown a lot of evidence in the past as well. I think it’s just supporting their skills. Obviously the execution didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” he said. Sundar, with 48, who had the highest individual score for India after Yashasvi Jaiswal, also dismissed suggestions that the pitch had turned hostile when Jansen hit a difficult length. “It wasn’t a snake pit or whatever you can call it. It was a very good wicket. It was a real wicket… If you spend time there, the runs are there for the taking,” he said, adding that the bounce Jansen extracted had more to do with his height than the surface. “It wasn’t uneven at all. He’s obviously the biggest in the world and he bounces a little bit at a good length.”
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Although he was moved from No. 3 in the previous Test to No. 8 in this one, Sundar said the change in role did not faze him. “I would say I’m happiest hitting where the team wants me to hit…It’s a team game,” he said, calling the opportunity to adapt “exciting.” With South Africa holding a 314-run lead after Jansen’s 6/48 dismantling of India, Sundar maintained calm optimism about what lies ahead. “You have to stay positive in life. You never know what will happen,” he said, even as the visitors tightened their grip on the match and the series.
