‘Gauti Bhai helped me a lot’: Washington Sundar praises Team India head coach after third day heroics | Cricket News

Washington Sundar (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Team India all-rounder Washington Sundar scored 50 innings and 127 innings with Nitish Reddy on Day 3 of the season Boxing Day Test showed his determination and mental strength in the face of relentless Australian pressure.
Beat on the side Nitish Kumar ReddySundar anchored India’s efforts and emphasized resilience and partnership as the foundation of his approach.
At Star Sports, he emphasized the clarity of his intention and the support system that enabled him to succeed in difficult conditions. Sundar acknowledged the importance of fighting spirit, regardless of the game situation.
READ ALSO: “One of the greatest hundreds in Indian cricket history”: Sunil Gavaskar praises Nitish Reddy
“The intention was definitely to fight no matter what the situation,” he said. “The outcome of things was really encouraging. I mean, I’m very grateful to be in an atmosphere like this, where so many people come to support us. It was a great gift for us. And of course it was very important for us to continue to put ourselves in a good position as part of the series. But yes, we played different phases differently. But we got through every phase, no matter how small, reasonably well. I mean, me and Nitesh have always said to each other that we will fight no matter what. And I mean, the way he hit was amazing to see from the other side.”
Sundar revealed that India’s strategy is based on patience. Sundar and Reddy gave instructions from the dressing room to play for time and not go for hasty chase runs and focus on tiring out the opposition bowlers.
“The message from the locker room was very clear. We definitely had to have time to play. Because the runs came and they got pretty tired too. So at some point there would be runs. So it was just important for us to spend a lot of time out there in the middle,” Sundar explained.
Sundar also praised the efforts of India head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Abhishek Nayar in preparing him to excel against Australia’s tactical nuances.
“Gauti bhai helped me a lot because he trusted me a lot. And he kept telling me how important my batting skills will be for the team,” Sundar said.

Likewise, Nayar’s emphasis on tactics and situational adaptability had a profound impact on Sundar’s game.
“And even the batting coach Abhishek Nair worked a lot on my game. And he always made sure that I was always there tactically. And regardless, we knew the Australians would try different things at different stages of the game. But he talks a lot about tactics and having information like that, especially out there, I think it has made a lot of things easier for me,” Sundar noted.
Young Reddy’s unbeaten maiden century of 105, coupled with a record eighth-wicket partnership of 127 with Washington Sundar, saved India from a precarious score of 191/6 to 358/9 at stumps on the third day of the fourth Test against Australia.